NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on pre-sentencing court filings for two convicted ex-aides to Republican Gov. Chris Christie (all times local):
7:50 p.m.
Both of Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s convicted former aides are seeking to avoid prison time after being convicted in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal.
Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni filed briefs Monday in advance of their sentencing Wednesday. Both are seeking probation and community service.
Prosecutors also filed a brief Monday. They want the pair sentenced to 37 to 46 months in prison.
Kelly argued that the guidelines used to calculate her sentence are typically used for violent crimes. Her attorneys also denied prosecutors’ claims that Kelly lied on the witness stand during the trial.
Kelly and Baroni were convicted of conspiracy, wire fraud and other charges for purposely causing traffic jams near the bridge in September 2013, to allegedly punish a Democratic mayor who didn’t endorse Christie.
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7 p.m.
One of Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s former top aides is seeking to avoid prison time after being convicted of corruption in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal.
Bill Baroni is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday.
In a court filing Monday, attorneys for the former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official say he deserves probation and community service.
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 37 to 46 months for Baroni and former Christie staffer Bridget Kelly.
Baroni and Kelly were convicted in an alleged plot to cause traffic jams to punish a Democratic mayor who wouldn’t endorse Christie in 2013.
Baroni’s attorneys say his exemplary personal and professional background should be taken into consideration, as should his assistance to the FBI during a separate corruption investigation more than a decade ago.
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5:15 p.m.
Federal prosecutors say two convicted former allies of Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lied during their corruption trial.
Prosecutors allege in Monday’s court filing Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni provided “flagrantly false testimony” during the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial last fall.
Kelly and Baroni are to be sentenced Wednesday. Prosecutors’ filing asks the judge for sentences of roughly three to four years for them.
Kelly was Christie’s former deputy chief of staff. Baroni was a top appointee to the authority that runs the bridge. They were convicted of using their positions to cause traffic jams near the bridge in 2013 in a plot against a Democratic mayor who didn’t endorse Christie.
Christie wasn’t charged.
Baroni and Kelly testified they thought the lane realignment was part of a legitimate traffic study.
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