NJ - Bridgegate & Supreme Court Hearing for B. Kelley and B. Baroni

[Seattle1]

High court skeptical of New Jersey ‘Bridgegate’ convictions

Jan 14, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed broadly skeptical Tuesday of the convictions of two people involved in New Jersey’s “Bridgegate” scandal where officials created a massive traffic jam to punish a mayor who refused to endorse then-governor Chris Christie’s reelection.

The justices suggested during arguments that the government had overreached in prosecuting Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni. Both were convicted of fraud and conspiracy for scheming in 2013 to change the traffic flow onto the George Washington Bridge between New York City and New Jersey to artificially create gridlock in New Jersey’s Fort Lee. The change came after Fort Lee’s mayor, a Democrat, declined to endorse the Republican governor [Chris Christie].

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Justice Samuel Alito, the only justice from New Jersey and someone who typically votes in favor of prosecutors, was among both liberal and conservative justices who suggested he was troubled by the government’s argument.

The agency’s [George Washington Bridge] executive director is appointed by New York’s governor and its deputy executive director, the position Baroni held, had been appointed by New Jersey’s governor, though the position no longer exists.

“Why would New Jersey agree to an arrangement like that where its representative is always in the second seat, at least nominally?” asked Alito.

Three of Alito’s colleagues — justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan — grew up in New York City. Sotomayor and Kagan along with Justice Stephen Breyer and Chief Justice John Roberts also suggested skepticism of Kelly and Baroni’s convictions.

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Christie, who was in the courtroom Tuesday, has denied knowing about the plan for gridlock ahead of time or as it was unfolding. Trial testimony contradicted his account, but the scandal helped derail his 2016 presidential bid. Kelly and Baroni, who are both free on bail, were also present for Tuesday’s arguments.

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Kelly was weeks from beginning a 13-month sentence last year when the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. Baroni had begun serving his 18-month sentence but was released from prison after the high court agreed to weigh in.

 

[Seattle1]

Supreme Court justices question whether Bridgegate was a federal crime. ‘I don’t see how this case works,’ one says.

Jan 14, 2020

It may have been the biggest traffic court case ever to be heard.

More than six years after the scheme of Jersey-style retribution that became known as Bridgegate caused massive traffic problems, the high-stakes corruption case had its day of reckoning Tuesday before the U.S. Supreme Court.

At least six of the nine justices appeared openly skeptical over whether the 2013 incident orchestrated by former officials of the Christie administration was a federal crime, as they peppered the government and defense attorneys with questions.

“I don’t see how this case works,” said Justice Stephen Breyer said, in remarking that what happened at the bridge may not have been a good thing to do, but questioning if it was a crime.

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Kelly was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison. Baroni received an 18-month prison term. The two now are free on bail pending the court’s decision. Wildstein, who pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy, testified against the two and was sentenced to probation.

Christie was never charged with any wrongdoing and has steadfastly denied knowing about the plan.

Curiously, Christie himself was at the Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, to the surprise of many, and sat just in front of Kelly with his wife, Mary Pat. He quickly disappeared after the arguments concluded.

 

[Seattle1]

Bridget Kelly Reacts to Spotting Chris Christie at the Supreme Court

Video at link

 

[Seattle1]

https://nypost.com/2019/05/16/ex-ch...ly-isnt-ready-to-go-to-prison-for-bridgegate/

May 16, 2019

Ex-Chris Christie crony Bridget Kelly still isn’t ready to go to prison for the 2013 “Bridgegate” scandal — she has asked a judge to delay her 13-month sentence until July 10, after her four young kids get out of school.

Kelly’s lawyer, Michael Critchley, said in a letter that she’s hoping the delay will “ensure all arrangements are finalized for her children’s care while she is incarcerated and to avoid disrupting the end of her minor children’s academic school year,” NJ.com reported.

Kelly, a single mother who was the former New Jersey governor’s deputy chief of staff, was convicted in November 2016 of plotting to shut down toll plaza access lanes of the George Washington Bridge as political payback after the mayor of Fort Lee refused to endorse Christie’s re-election.

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Kelly had been sentenced to 18 months in prison until an appeals court in November overturned two of the nine counts she’d been convicted of.

She has petitioned the US Supreme Court to hear her remaining appeal; her co-defendant, former Port Authority exec Bill Baroni, has been sentenced to 18 months in the plot but has said he will make no further appeals.

 

[Seattle1]

Supreme Court may toss out convictions in Bridgegate case

Jan 14, 2020

By Pete Williams


WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court seemed prepared Tuesday to reverse the convictions of two state officials behind the Bridgegate scandal that created monumental traffic jams in 2013 on the George Washington Bridge and tarnished the image of then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Several of the justices appeared to be skeptical of the prosecution's theory of the case — that the two committed fraud by lying about their reason for closing the bridge.

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A federal court jury returned guilty verdicts against Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly and Bill Baroni, the deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the bridge. The jury found that they shut down two of three bridge lanes coming out of Fort Lee, New Jersey, as political payback.

What made the case controversial is that fraud cases typically accuse public officials of diverting public resources to line their own pockets and there was no such claim in this case. That seemed to bother several of the justices.

"The object of this deception was not to obtain property. The object was to create a traffic jam. The object was to benefit people politically," Justice Elena Kagan said.

Chief Justice John Roberts made the same point.

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Both the former officials were sentenced to prison for their role in the Bridgegate scandal. Kelly was to report in the summer but has been allowed to remain free while the case is on appeal. Baroni began serving his sentence in April but was released on bond when the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.

A decision will be announced by late June.