Ex-Christie aides sentenced to jail in Bridgegate case

Former aides to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) were sentenced to prison on Wednesday in connection with the 2013 Bridgegate scandal, The Associated Press reported.

Bill Baroni received a two-year sentence while Bridget Anne Kelly was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Baroni, a Christie appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff, were convicted in a scheme to close down lanes on the George Washington Bridge as political retribution. Charges included conspiracy, fraud and deprivation of civil rights.

{mosads}Christie’s aides were accused of closing lanes to create a traffic jam in Fort Lee, N.J., because the town’s Democratic mayor refused to back Christie’s reelection.

Earlier this year, prosecutors said they would not seek criminal charges against Christie over the scandal.

A letter from the Office of the Bergen County Prosecutor said that criminal misconduct charges “cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” 

The office said it could not prove Christie knew about the lane closures.

Christie has maintained he had no prior knowledge of the closures.

–This report was updated at 3:05 p.m.