NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on the sentencing in the George Washington Bridge lane closures (all times local):
3:30 p.m.
A former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie sentenced to 18 months in prison says she looks forward to her appeal and won’t allow herself “to be the scapegoat.”
Former deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly was sentenced Wednesday, shortly after co-defendant Bill Baroni was handed a two-year prison sentence.
Kelly said outside the courthouse in Newark that she wanted to ensure her children that “the fight is far from over.” Baroni’s lawyer also said he’s looking forward to his appeal.
Kelly and Baroni were convicted in November over lane closures near the busy George Washington Bridge linking New Jersey and New York.
A prosecution witness testified the plot was to punish a mayor who didn’t endorse the Republican governor. Fort Lee suffered four days of gridlock in September 2013.
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2:45 p.m.
A second former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in a political revenge plot involving traffic jams at the country’s busiest bridge.
Bridget Kelly was sentenced Wednesday, shortly after co-defendant Bill Baroni was handed a two-year prison sentence.
Kelly and Baroni were convicted in November over lane closures near the busy George Washington Bridge linking New Jersey and New York.
A prosecution witness who pleaded guilty testified the plot was to punish a mayor who didn’t endorse the Republican governor. Fort Lee suffered four days of gridlock in September 2013.
Kelly was Christie’s deputy chief of staff. She was the author of the infamous email, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” that surfaced during the investigation.
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2 p.m.
The New Jersey mayor of the town at the center of the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scheme says he’s relieved the scandal is coming to an end.
Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the ordeal was a “long and sad story” but that he doesn’t have any hard feelings.
Former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official Bill Baroni was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison for his role in the political revenge plot.
Sokolich says that the sentence is “fair” and that he wishes Baroni well.
Baroni’s co-defendant, Bridget Kelly, is being sentenced later Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors said the Democratic mayor was the target of the 2013 political payback scheme that sought to punish him for not endorsing Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s re-election.
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12:50 p.m.
The Democratic New Jersey lawmaker who led a legislative inquiry into the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandals says the sentencing of a former ally of Gov. Chris Christie’s is “sad” for the state.
Former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official Bill Baroni was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison.
Sen. Loretta Weinberg co-chaired the Legislature’s inquiry into the 2013 scheme that resulted in the bridge’s access lanes in Fort Lee being closed as part of a political payback scheme.
Assemblyman John Wisniewski, the panel’s co-chairman, says he takes no pleasure in the sentencing. He says, “The problem is Mr. Baroni broke the law and wound up endangering the lives of people for purely political purposes.” Wisniewski is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.
Democratic Mayor Mark Sokolich of Fort Lee said he’s not commenting.
Fort Lee suffered four days of gridlock as part of the plan that shut the bridge’s local lanes to punish Sokolich for not backing re-election of Christie, a Republican.
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12:15 p.m.
A former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a political revenge plot involving traffic jams at the country’s busiest bridge.
Bill Baroni had requested probation.
He was convicted in November for his role in lane closures near the George Washington Bridge, which links New Jersey and New York City. Co-defendant Bridget Kelly was to be sentenced later Wednesday.
A prosecution witness testified the plot was to punish a mayor who didn’t endorse the Republican governor. Fort Lee suffered four days of gridlock in 2013.
Baroni was a top Christie appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the bridge.
He said the lane closures were part of a legitimate traffic study.
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7:30 a.m.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is not saying what kind of sentence two former aides should face for their roles in the George Washington Bridge lane closures.
The Republican governor says the judge will do what the judge believes is appropriate.
Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni on Wednesday face up to 46 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, although both have filed papers requesting probation.
Both were convicted on counts including wire fraud, conspiracy and misusing the bridge for improper purposes.
Christie appeared Wednesday on NBC’s “Today” show from Washington, where he’s scheduled to attend a discussion about opioid addiction with President Donald Trump.
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12:10 a.m.
Two former aides to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday for their roles in the 2013 George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal.
Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni were convicted last November on counts including wire fraud, conspiracy and misusing the bridge for improper purposes.
They face up to 46 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, although both have filed papers requesting probation.
A former bridge authority official testified that the lane closures were meant to cause gridlock to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing the Republican Christie.
The scandal derailed Christie’s presidential aspirations and likely cost him a chance to be then-GOP nominee Donald Trump’s running mate.
Questions remain over when, and how much, Christie knew about the plan to realign the lanes.
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