Man Who Launched Ethics Complaint Against Gov. Christie Running For Governor

WAYNE, N.J. — The man who filed a criminal ethics complaint against Governor Chris Christie regarding the "Bridgegate" lane-closure case announced his candidacy for governor Monday morning and is continuing to pursue appointing a special prosecutor in the case against the governor.

Bill Brennan announced his intention to run as governor to rid Trenton of politicians and career businessmen like Democratic candidate Phil Murphy. Brennan said he is running on the Bernie Sanders platform of running government by the people and for the people.

"We don't need Goldman Sachs running our state government," Brennan said flanked by a crowd of protesters behind him. "There is more of us then they have dollars. More of the same is not what we need."

Brennan has never held elected office. He unsuccessfully ran against formerAssemblyman Scott Rumana in 2011, but lost.

Brennan and a group of about two dozen protesters gathered at Wayne Town Hall to protest the governor and the millions of taxpayer dollars they said the case has cost them.

Brennan filed a criminal ethics complaint against the governor regarding the case. A judge denied his request to appoint a special prosecutor to review the complaint due to a "lack of standing."

RELATED: Request For Special Prosecutor in Christie Bridgegate Criminal Complaint Case Denied

Brennan took issue with Judge Bonnie Mizdol's ruling, in which she said that he may not act as a prosecutor in the case, which Brennan said he does not want to do. He simply wants someone other than a county prosecutor, or Attorney General Anthony Porrino, to prosecute the case, since Christie has appointed those individuals.

"I did not ask to act as my own prosecutor," Brennan said. "It’s a classic bait and switch strawman tactic designed to avoid assailant constructional issues that are before that court. No where did I ask permission to ask to act as a prosecutor. She answers a question that wasn't posed. No reasonable person believes that answering a question not asked and allowing a conflict of interest remaining in the office of prosecutor is in any way part of a system of criminal justice rooted in integrity."

Brennan said if Mizdol refuses to hear and rule on his motion for reconsideration he will file today, he would appeal his case to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Supreme Court, and, if necessary, to the federal court system.

"We're dealing with rampant criminality in the office of the governor of New Jersey," Brennan said. "The charade that Chris Christie has been laying on this state is in the tens of millions of dollars. It is time for Mr. Christie to answer and be held accountable for the lies he has continued to tell day in and day out, year in and year out, with a bald face."

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Bill Brennan at a press conference announcing his candidacy for governor of New Jersey Monday morning. — Staff Photo by Daniel Hubbard