‘Bridgegate’ scandal leads to 20 subpoenas – but Christie not included

The New Jersey special legislative committee tasked with investigating the “Bridgegate” scandal has led to the issuance of 20 subpoenas – but so far, not to Gov. Chris Christie.

The legislative committee didn’t identify who was subpoenaed, but sources said to The New York Post that the governor’s name in not among the bunch. The names will go public once the individuals have been officially served, the paper reported.

The scandal – which ties Mr. Christie’s aides and appointees by email to an alleged political revenge plot to shut lanes on the George Washington Bridge that wind through the district of a mayor who failed to support the governor’s reelection – has raised nationwide outrage and become the target of two separate committee investigations in the state. It’s been dubbed “Bridgegate” by the media, and has been debated as a dark blot on Mr. Christie’s chances for the White House in 2016.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office is also looking to see if federal laws were broken. And U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who heads up the Commerce Committee, has told the press he’s “ready to pounce” on the case and take punitive action, The New York Post said.

Mr. Christie has denied awareness of the revenge plot. He’s also fired one of his leading staffers, Bridget Anne Kelly, for lying about the matter and apologized to Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for the four-day traffic nightmare the bridge lane closure caused in September.