Christie, Cuomo Conspired In Bridgegate Cover-Up, Ex-Christie Ally Testifies

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York conspired to end scrutiny of the controversial lane closings at the George Washington Bridge in 2013, otherwise known as "Bridgegate," according to new testimony from an ex-Christie ally.

Christie and Cuomo agreed to falsely explain Bridgegate as a traffic study to try to “put an end to” the growing scandal, according to The New York Times' report of testimony from David Wildstein, a former Christie administration official at the Port Authority.

Wildstein, who has pleaded guilty to masterminding the scandal, testified in the weeks-long Bridgegate trial Tuesday of two ex-Christie aides that Cuomo helped in the cover-up of the scandal as it was unfolding, according to reports.

Cuomo, responding to a request from Christie, told the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the bridge, to “stand down” in trying to publicly blame the lane closings on New Jersey officials until Christie had won re-election in November 2013, according to a The New York Times report.

Similar reports have come up in the past few years that Christie and Cuomo had discussions about handling the Bridgegate fallout, but they've both denied that such a conversation ever took place and that they had any role in the lane-closing scandal.

The Port Authority's executive director, Patrick J. Foye, was supposed to sign off on the plan. Instead, he ordered the lanes reopened when he learned about the shutdown four days after it began.

Christie apparently vented his frustration to Cuomo about Foye, the governor's top appointee to the bi-state authority. "New Jersey side (would have) accepted responsibility and ... Mr. Foye would sign off on that," he was quoted by NJ.com as saying. "My understanding, at the time, was that that would put an end to this issue," Wildstein said, according to the report.

Christie was furious Foye was "meddling" in New Jersey affairs, according to Michael Critchley, former Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly's defense attorney, who pressed Wildstein during his third day of cross examination, according to NJ.com.

The trial involving two alleged Bridgegate conspirators who were indicted in connection with the scandal began two weeks ago, and it's supposed to last as long as a month.

The two indicted were Kelly, the governor’s former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, the top Christie executive appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Wildstein has pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy.

Long-time Christie confidant David Samson, who some believed had a role in the Bridgegate scheme but was never charged for it, pleaded guilty in July to demanding a bribe while he was chairman of the Port Authority.

Christie, who has repeatedly denied being involved in the scheme, recently told NBC that he believes the scandal impacted his chances of becoming Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate. Christie also made a failed attempt at running for president earlier this year.

Patch file photo