WATCH: Could Chris Christie, And Others, Still Be Charged With A Crime?

In the matter known as “Bridgegate,” the punishing four-day lane-closing operation at the George Washington Bridge in September 2013, the biggest question is simple:

What’s next?

On Friday, the public listened to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, the man charged with investigating the political-payback scheme, say no additional charges are forthcoming - based on the evidence available right now.

But they also listened to the attorney for David Wildstein, the man at the center of the operation who pleaded guilty to corruption charges Friday, still insist Christie knew about the plan to punish the Fort Lee mayor for not supporting the governor’s re-election bid in 2013.

That claim, as well as other potential issues addressed in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s investigation of corruption in the Christie administration over the past year, could suggest that - despite the governor’s claims otherwise - the “Bridgegate” scandal hasn’t closed.

In fact, if Wildstein, a former top Port Authority appointee, and his attorney are to be believed, it could be just beginning.

Following his client’s guilty plea on Friday, Alan Zegas, Wildstein’s attorney, told reporters [see video below] this:

“I had a made a statement on behalf of Mr. Wildstein in January of [2014] that Mr. Christie knew of the lane closures while they were occurring, and evidence exists to establish that.”

Zegas also noted that Wildstein continues to cooperate with the government, answer the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s questions “and, if need be, is prepared to testify at trial.”

His cooperation, Zegas said, “should shed truth on what occurred during the course of that week, what led to those events and what ensued thereafter.”

“There is a lot more that will come out,” Zegas promised.

Christie, meanwhile, has said the latest developments - Wildstein’s guilty plea and the indictment of two ex-aides in the scandal - back up his claims that he had no prior knowledge of the lane closures.

“[The] 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.”

A guilty plea by Wildstein will lead to the first conviction for 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.

While Fishman says that no additional people will be charged “based on evidence currently available,” he did not say the investigation is over. Nor did he rule out the possibility of additional information being made available as Wildstein and two other ex-aides indicted in the scandal, William E. Baroni Jr. and Bridget Anne Kelly, face their days in court.

Indeed, any number of news sources, from NBC News to The New York Times to Esquire Magazine, have said that more people could face charges connected to the notorious Fort Lee traffic jam and other issues involving alleged corruption in the Christie administration. Private talks with sources close to the investigation confirm those reports, and some have suggested that Christie is also awaiting more results of the investigation before making a decision on a presidential run.

Former Port Authority Chairman David Samson has been identified as one Christie ally who could face legal trouble, having recently decided to step down from his longtime post as co-founder of the politically connected law firm Wolff & Samson, according to politickernj.com. Samson’s firm also said it was changing its name.

Bloomberg, for instance, outlined Samson’s alleged involvement in a possible pay-to-play scheme that helped United Airlines win approval for projects that will boost the airline’s operations at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The circumstances surrounding the approvals allegedly began with a dinner between Samson and United’s chief executive officer, according to the report:

• Jeffery Smisek, United’s chief executive officer, wanted funding for several projects at Newark airport when the executive dined with Samson in September 2011.
• During the dinner, Samson noted he had grown weary of a trip to his weekend home in Aiken, S.C. because the best flight out of Newark was to Charlotte, N.C. He noted that Continental had run direct service from Newark to Columbia, S.C., 100 miles closer, until 2009.

“In a tone described by one observer as ’playful, but not joking,’ Samson asked: Could United revive that route? An awkward silence fell over the table.”

• Showing he wasn’t joking, Samson “ratcheted up the pressure” after the dinner, possibly suggesting through a United lobbyist that he was maneuvering to delay the airline’s project requests.
• The Port Authority ultimately approved a new United hangar, and Samson got his “chairman’s flight.” Four days after Samson left the Port Authority in March 2014, the flight was canceled.

Photo, left to right: David Wildstein, Alan Zegas and Chris Christie

Related stories:

• Guilty Plea, Two Indictments In Christie Administration ‘Bridgegate’ Scandal
• No New Charges Coming In Christie Administration ‘Bridgegate’ Scandal, Based On Current Evidence
• Christie Administration Corruption Probe Has ‘New Details,’ Could Produce More Charges
• 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