Donald Trump Helps Pay Off Half-Million In N.J. 'Bridgegate' Legal Fees

Donald Trump has helped put New Jersey and Gov. Chris Christie's Bridgegate troubles aside — financially, at least.

The New Jersey Republican Party has paid off the $500,000 in debt it owed to creditors in the aftermath of the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal, and a fundraiser held by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in May appeared to help a lot, according to reports.

The party's filing with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission shows that seven people, companies and PACs made $25,000 contributions last quarter, which was the price of a ticket to the Lawrenceville fundraiser, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

That money accounts for $175,000 of the approximately $500,000 the state GOP paid off between April 1 and June 30. In total, the party raised $397,322 for its state account last quarter, paying the $274,000 it owed to Stroz Friedberg LLC, a data recovery firm the party hired to produce documents to federal prosecutors investigating the lane closures, according to the report.

The New Jersey GOP also paid about $150,000 in legal fees to Squire Patton Boggs LLP and Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP for help responding to subpoenas, according to the report.

"Gov. Chris Christie continued his long tradition of raising record amounts for the NJGOP," New Jersey GOP Executive Director Pete Sheridan said in a statement released to newspapers. "Thanks to his efforts this quarter, our state party is debt-free of all past legal bills and with a strong financial footing to help support Republican candidates across New Jersey to win in November."

Read more: Christie Confidant, Bridgegate Figure Pleads Guilty In Corruption Case

The lane closure turned out to be a political payback scheme against the Fort Lee mayor for not supporting Christie in his 2013 reelection bid, leading to two indictments and one guilty plea involving former Christie confidants.

Last week, a Christie confidant who was allegedly involved in the Bridgegate scandal pleaded guilty in a continuing criminal investigation, according to authorities.

The committee also reported raising $434,120 for its federal account from April 1 to June 30. The federal account now has a bank balance of $314,319 and remaining debts of $43,788, while the state account has $61,286 cash on hand and $22,689 in debts, according to nj.com.

The Bridgegate scandal severely damaged Christie's reputation, tying him to the illegal closure of two of three local toll lanes to the George Washington Bridge.