No New Charges Coming In Christie Administration 'Bridgegate' Scandal, Based On Current Evidence

File Photo: William E. Baroni Jr., left, and Bridget Anne Kelly, right, were indicted on nine counts of conspiracy and fraud in the ‘Bridgegate’ scandal on Friday.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday it won’t be charging anybody else in the ”Bridgegate” scandal based on the current evidence available.

That could mean Gov. Chris Christie will not be implicated in the conspiracy allegedly concocted by David Wildstein, William E. Baroni Jr. and Bridget Anne Kelly, to create a weeklong traffic jam in Fort Lee as political payback in 2013.

>>Related: Guilty Plea, Two Indictments In Christie Administration ‘Bridgegate’ Scandal

“Based on evidence currently available, we aren’t going to charge anyone else in the scheme,” U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said on Friday after announcing charges against Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, and Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff.

Christie said today’s statement backs up his claims that he had no prior knowledge of the lane closures.

“Today’s charges make clear that what I’ve said from day one is true, I had no knowledge or involvement in the planning or execution of this act,” Christie said. “The moment I first learned of this unacceptable behavior I took action, firing staff believed to be accountable, calling for an outside investigation and agreeing to fully cooperate with all appropriate investigations, which I have done. Now 15 months later it is time to let the justice system do its job.”

About two hours after Wildstein pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy in the infamous weeklong traffic jam, Baroni and Kelly were each charged with nine counts in a scheme to misuse Port Authority resources to facilitate and conceal the cause of traffic problems in Fort Lee in September of 2013.

The scheme served as political payback for Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich not supporting Christie during his re-election bid in 2012.

Baroni and Kelly face the following charges:

• Conspiring to misuse, and actually misusing, property of an organization receiving federal benefits;
• Conspiring to commit, and actually committing, wire fraud;
• Conspiring to injure and oppress certain individuals’ civil rights, and acting under color of law to deprive certain individuals of their civil rights.

They are scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning.

Wildstein pleaded guilty to conspiring to misuse the property of an organization receiving federal benefits and conspiring to injure and oppress certain individuals’ civil rights in connection with his role in causing traffic problems to punish Sokolich.

Wildstein admitted the three conspired to reduce from three to one the number of local access lanes, located in Fort Lee, to the upper level of the George Washington Bridge, and the toll booths servicing those lanes.

They allegedly concocted the scheme in August, but waited until the first day of school to execute their alleged scheme.

When Sokolich attempted to contact the Port Authority concerning the Port Authority concerning the closures, they allegedly maintained what they referred to as “radio silence.” They allegedly didn’t respond to phone calls, text messages or emails from Sokolich, even when he referred to a public safety issue.

Unsuspecting Port Authority officials were allegedly told the lanes were closed for a traffic study, and proceeded as though a study was being conducted, Fishman said.

On Nov. 25, 2013, Baroni allegedly falsely testified about the lane and toll booth reductions to the N.J. Assembly Transportation, Public Works, and Independent Authorities Committee, Fishman said.

He allegedly made misleading statements and false representations, including:

• communications between members of the Port Authority Police Department and Wildstein triggered the lane and toll booth reductions;
• the lane and toll booth reductions were part of a one-week traffic study; and
• the failure to communicate with Fort Lee and the executive director of the Port Authority was simply the result of communication breakdowns at the Port Authority.

Baroni, Kelly and Wildstein each face a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on the conspiracy charges.

They each face a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on the count of misusing property of an organization receiving federal benefits.

On each of the wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud counts, Baroni and Kelly face a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 per count.

On the count of conspiring to injure and oppress certain individuals’ civil rights, each of the three alleged co-conspirators face a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

On the count of acting under color of law to deprive certain individuals of their civil rights, Baroni and Kelly face a maximum potential penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Related stories:

• First Christie Associate To Plead Guilty In ‘Bridgegate’ Scandal; Could Cooperate With Investigators
• Prosecution Reportedly Closing In On Christie Administration As Governor’s Popularity Fades
• Christie Administration Corruption Probe Has ‘New Details,’ Could Produce More Charges
• Most Say Christie Should Leave Office If Committed Crime
• Bribery Possibly Involved As ‘Bridgegate’ Indictments Could Come Soon
• WATCH: As Possible Indictments Loom, Christie Sets Presidential Announcement Timeline