On Sunday, former President Trump suggested the possibility of initiating a criminal investigation into Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, while bringing up claims related to the 2013 “Bridgegate” scandal.
This remarks came after Trump viewed Christie’s appearance on ABC News’ “This Week.” He posted on the Truth Social Platform, questioning the credibility of Christie’s statements: “Does anyone believe what Chris says? Do you remember how he lied about the dangerous and fatal closure of the George Washington Bridge? He sacrificed people who worked for him and those who fought against malicious accusations.”
Trump criticized Christie, stating, “He refused to be held liable for these criminal activities. For justice, perhaps we should start looking at that very serious situation again? No one is beyond the law!”
However, Christie was never implicated in the 2013 scandal. Two of his associates received prison sentences after being convicted for their roles in a plan to penalize a local Democratic mayor who didn’t support Christie’s reelection.
The allegations involved lane closures at the George Washington Bridge that caused significant traffic delays for Mayor Fort Lee, New Jersey. Prosecutors chose not to file charges against Christie, asserting that they couldn’t prove he had knowledge of the closures or any criminal wrongdoing “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Christie has always maintained his innocence.
In a 2020 decision, the Supreme Court overturned the convictions of the two aides, ruling unanimously that while the scheme involved deception, it did not infringe upon federal law.
Trump endorsed the Supreme Court’s ruling, describing it as “serious misconduct by the Obama Department of Justice,” while asserting that it provided “complete exoneration” for Christie and his associates from that period.
Christie also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, characterizing it as a corrective measure against overzealous federal prosecutors. “The case was propelled by U.S. attorneys and the Department of Justice seeking biased outcomes,” he stated. “By recklessly pursuing this, they violated the oath sworn by all members of the Department of Justice.”
