GOVERNOR KRISPY KREME COMES OUT SWINGING

After being silent on the latest revelation by Christie's long time friend David Wildstein, the governor's office blasted out an email response attacking his former friend and the NY Times.

Governor Christie came out smoking mad against his former friend and the NY Times Saturday afternoon after the Times ran a story on the Friday before the Super Bowl alleging that there is evidence proving the governor knew about the lane closing scandal in Fort Lee while it was happening.

His office sent out a furious email denouncing Wildstein and the Grey Lady.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, after a low-key initial response to Friday’s explosive allegations about his involvement in a bridge-closing scandal, mounted an aggressive defense late Saturday afternoon, attacking The New York Times and a former political ally in an email to friends and allies obtained by POLITICO. 

“Bottom line — David Wildstein will do and say anything to save David Wildstein,” the email from the governor’s office says, referring to the former appointee who reignited the controversy. 

A letter from Wildstein’s lawyer, Alan L. Zegas of Chatham, N.J., asserted Friday that “evidence exists … tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the Governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference.” 

The subject line of the 700-word email from the governor’s office is: “5 Things You Should Know About The Bombshell That’s Not A Bombshell.” It offers a harshly negative portrayal of Wildstein’s character and judgment. 

The Christie camp begins by criticizing The Times for its initial characterization of the Wildstein letter: “A media firestorm was set off by sloppy reporting from the New York Times and their suggestion that there was actually ‘evidence’ when it was a letter alleging that ‘evidence exists.’ 

Chris Christie tried to lower the boom on his old friend by using the tried and true political character assassination technique, but that's almost laughable at this point. 

“In David Wildstein’s past, people and newspaper accounts have described him as ‘tumultuous’ and someone who ‘made moves that were not productive,’” the email continues. 

“David Wildstein has been publicly asking for immunity since the beginning, been held in contempt by the New Jersey legislature for refusing to testify, failed to provide this so-called ‘evidence’ when he was first subpoenaed by the NJ Legislature and is looking for the Port Authority to pay his legal bills.”

The email dips far back into Wildstein’s past to buttress its portrayal of him, even alleging that “he was publicly accused by his high school social studies teacher of deceptive behavior.”

If David Wildstein was such a bad guy - then why did Gov. Christie appoint him to a high position in the Port Authority at all? Doesn't his failings also indict Christie for being an incompetent boss if what he says is true?

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

DAVID WILDSTEIN STARTS SINGING - SAYS CHRISTIE KNEW

A former top aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says that the governor was aware of the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge and claimed that “he had the evidence to prove it,” the New York Times reports. Christie has repeatedly denied having any knowledge of his administration’s involvement in the closures before incriminating emails surfaced in early January.

Former Port Authority official David Wildstein — the former director of interstate capital projects — said in a letter released by his lawyer that the Christie administration ordered the closure of the traffic lanes and said “evidence exists as well tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference” three weeks ago.

“Mr. Wildstein contests the accuracy of various statements that the governor made about him and he can prove the inaccuracy of some,” the letter added. The letter is sent from the law offices of Alan L. Zegas to the general counsel at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey challenging the Authority’s decision not to pay the former official’s legal bills.

The bridge controversy blew up after documents revealed that Christie aides orchestrated the September lane closures as an act of apparent retribution against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee who refused to endorse the governor’s re-election bid. The documents also showed that Wildstein and several other Christie staffers were aware that the traffic closures were causing massive delays in Fort Lee and impeding public safety but kept the lanes closed for three additional days.

Wildstein, who attended high school with Christie, resigned last year in light of the scandal and has until now taken the Fifth and refused to answer questions at a state Assembly committee hearing investigating the matter. He is currently seeking a plea deal. Christie, meanwhile, has insisted that he barely knows Wildstein.

“I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge,” he said during a Jan. 9 press conference. “…This behavior is not representative of me or my administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions.”

Stay tuned and pop the popcorn, as we'll keep you apprised of this late breaking news.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West