First Christie Associate To Plead Guilty In 'Bridgegate' Scandal; Could Cooperate With Investigators

A former associate of Gov. Chris Christie is set to plead guilty on Friday in the ”Bridgegate” scandal, and could cooperate with prosecutors probing traffic jams that were ordered near the George Washington Bridge in 2013, according to a report.

David Wildstein is scheduled to appear in federal court in Newark where grand jurors have heard testimony in secret about the election-season payback gridlock that took place over four mornings in Fort Lee, according to a person who requested anonymity in the Bloomberg report.

Christie, speaking at a press briefing in New Brunswick when the news broke, said he is “not worried” about Weinstein’s appearance, saying he had nothing to do with the Bridgegate scandal.

A plea by the former top appointee at the Port Authority would be the first conviction for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in the Bridgegate scandal. Christie has been dogged by the scandal, causing his approval ratings to plummet while he tests the presidential campaign waters in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Christie has denied knowledge of the scheme, but if Wildstein pleads guilty and cooperates with prosecutors, he could give them an inside view of what happened, according to the report.

Wildstein lawyer Alan Zegas, who has said “evidence exists” that Christie knew of the traffic jams at the time, has not commented on the report.

Christie plans to announce his decision on running for president “by May or June,” he told Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon during a recent broadcast.

Christie made the announcement last week despite news that as many as eight people could be indicted soon in the notorious Fort Lee traffic jam, according to any number of news sources, from NBC News to The New York Times to Esquire Magazine.

Private talks with sources close to the investigation confirm those reports, and some have suggested that Christie is also awaiting the results of the investigation before making a decision on a presidential run.

Few expect Christie himself to face charges himself. But if the indictments do come, they’d likely name former staffers thought to be behind the scandal, according to politickernj.com.

Those ex-staffers could include: former Christie aide Bridget Kelly; Wildstein; and former Port Authority deputy director Bill Baroni, according to the report.

Former Port Authority Chairman David Samson also could be named, amplified by his recent decision to step down from his longtime post as co-founder of the politically connected law firm Wolff & Samson, according to the report. Samson’s firm also said it was changing its name.

Patch photo: David Wildstein

Related stories:

• Prosecution Reportedly Closing In On Christie Administration As Governor’s Popularity Fades
• 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