The Fort Lee lane closure scandal, also known as the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal or Bridgegate, is a U.S. political scandal in which a staff member and political appointees of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie colluded to create traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey, by closing lanes at the main toll plaza for the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. The closures were intended to embarrass or anger Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich who had not supported Christie politically.

Three people were eventually charged by Paul J. Fishman, the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. A Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) official, David Wildstein, pleaded guilty in the case and is cooperating with prosecutors. Bill Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the PANYNJ, and Bridget Anne Kelly, former deputy chief of staff to Governor Christie, were charged with conspiracy and fraud and entered pleas of not guilty.

Fishman also compiled a list of unindicted co-conspirators, parties who were aware of the closures at the time they took place or involved in a possible cover-up but who were not charged, which was not made public.Kate, May 1, 2015, The New York Times, Looming Question: Are There Unindicted Co-Conspirators? The release of the names of so-called co-conspirators has been a matter of controversy in and of itself. and was taken up by Judge Susan Davis Wigenton of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. While the names have been made available to attorneys, they have not been made public pending proceedings. Another list, of others "who may have had knowledge of the conspiracy or took actions that happened to further its goals" but did not join the conspiracy, came to light in judicial proceedings in March 2016. Despite the release of some documents after the trial the names of unindicted co-conspirators were not released.

In testimony given in September 2016, Wildstein said that among those who knew of the lane closures either before or while they were taking place or were made aware of attempts at a cover-up were Governor Christie, political advisors Bill Stepien and Michael DuHaime, and PANYNJ staff David Samson, Pat Schuber, and Philip Kwon.

Key people

Person Article includes pictures of many of the key figures. Role NotesPort Authority (PA) Bill Baroni Deputy Executive Director (Appointed by Christie) Resigned on December 13, 2013; was David Wildstein's supervisor, has been accused of collaborating in the planning and cover-up of the toll lane closures. Patrick "Pat" Foye Executive director(Appointed by Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo) Wrote email critical of closures and ordered re-opening of the local toll lanes on September 13, 2013. David Samson Chairman of the PA Board of Commissioners (Appointed by Christie)Partner in Wolff & Samson law firm Was involved in the aftermath, as shown in a series of subpoenaed written communications; Samson's law practice generated complaints of conflict of interest with his PA role; resigned on March 28, 2014. David Wildstein Director of Interstate Capital Projects (Recommended by Christie; hired by and worked under Baroni) Ordered PA staff to close the lanes and make no disclosures to Fort Lee officials or the public. Resigned on December 13, 2013. His position was eliminated on February 4, 2014.Office of the Governor Chris Christie Governor of New Jersey Claimed no knowledge of his aides' involvement until he read about it in the media on January 8, 2014; a law firm hired by Christie cleared him of involvement, but it has been widely criticized. Michael Drewniak Press Secretary to Christie Responded to media inquiries at the governor's office and at the PA. Testified before a federal grand jury on April 4, 2014. Regina Egea Director of the Authorities Unit Received the Foye email on September 13, 2013; was scheduled to replace O'Dowd if his nomination to State Attorney General was confirmed by the NJ Senate. Bridget Anne Kelly Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Authored August 13, 2013, email to Wildstein: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee"; fired by Christie on January 9, 2014. Charlie McKenna Chief Counsel to Christie Ran December 2013 investigation into governor's office's involvement (with O'Dowd); became director of NJSDA that month and was replaced by Christopher Porrino; purportedly the "Charlie" in subpoenaed texts and emails. Kevin O'Dowd Chief of Staff to Christie Ran governor's office investigation (with McKenna); nominated in December 2013 for State Attorney General; January confirmation hearing was postponed due to potential conflict since he ran Christie's investigation. Bill Stepien Christie's political consultant and election campaign manager (including governor elections in 2009 and 2013); Former Deputy Chief of Staff for intergovernmental affairs (prior to Fort Lee scandal events) Removed by Christie on January 8, 2014, as political adviser, and nominee for Republican Party State Chairman for NJ, due to the tone of his comments in subpoenaed emails. Stepien then worked for FLS Connect (a Republican voter contact consulting firm in Minnesota with previous ties to Christie), and for GOPAC (a Republican 527 organization).State and federal investigators Paul J. Fishman United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey Opened an inquiry in January 2014; in 2009, sworn into his position, which had been held by Christie in 2008. Reid Schar Special counsel to a joint special investigative committee for the New Jersey Legislature To assist the committee in the legal aspects of their investigation; Jenner & Block, Schar's law firm, represented Assembly Democrats in New Jersey's legislative redistricting battles of 2011 and 2001. Loretta Weinberg Co-chair of a joint special investigative committee for the New Jersey Legislature State Senate majority leader (Democrat); On January 27, 2014, the New Jersey Senate and Assembly voted to create a joint committee in order to take over the investigation from the Assembly Transportation Committee. John Wisniewski Co-chair of a joint special investigative committee for the New Jersey Legislature and chair of Assembly Transportation Committee Deputy speaker and Democratic member of the Assembly; started committee hearings in November 2013 and subpoenaed documents that identified key figures and their actions in the toll lane closures and alleged cover-up.

Legal representation for key people and organizations Client (See table at end of article with list of twenty, and their legal reps, who received subpoenas due February 3, 2014, from the legislative committee.) Legal representatives Notes and key credentialsPort Authority (PA) Bill Baroni Michael B. Himmel, a partner at the New York and Roseland, New Jersey offices of Lowenstein Sandler Himmel was the attorney for Solomon Dwek, who was as an informant in Operation Bid Rig III that brought down several New Jersey politicians David Samson Michael Chertoff, "senior of counsel" at the Washington, D.C. law firm Covington & Burling;Angelo J. Genova, senior partner, chairman, and co-founder of the Newark law firm Genova Burns LLC Chertoff is a former United States Attorney and Secretary of Homeland Security; his consulting firm received a Port Authority no-bid contract to review its security; Genova had served on the PA Board of Commissioners David Wildstein Alan L. Zegas, a criminal defense attorney, at Chatham, New Jersey–based Law Offices of Alan L. Zegas Philip Kwon Geoffrey S. Berman, co-managing shareholder of the New Jersey office of Greenberg Traurig, LLP Berman worked as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York in the early 1990s and was the associate counsel to the independent prosecutor investigating Iran-Contra for the government during the late 1980s.Office of the Governor Christie's Office of the Governor (and five staff members) Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, including partner Randy M. Mastro, based in the firm's New York office Hired in January 2014, after disclosure of subpoenaed documents from the New Jersey Transportation Committee, in order to aid in an investigation for the governor's office and respond to "appropriate" official inquiries Bridget Anne Kelly Michael Critchley Sr., founder of the Roseland, New Jersey–based firm Critchley, Kinum & Vazquez Replaced Walter F. Timpone, who cited a conflict of interest as Christie's appointed vice-chairman of the Election Law Enforcement Commission Bill Stepien Kevin Marino, a principal and founder of Chatham, New Jersey–based Marino, Tortorella & Boyle Other persons or organizations Christie's 2013 re-election campaign Patton Boggs, including partner Mark D. Sheridan, in Newark until that office closes and moves to Florham Park, New Jersey Official name for re-election campaign was Chris Christie for Governor Inc. New Jersey Republican State Committee Patton Boggs, including partner Mark D. Sheridan The firm serves as general counsel for the Republican State Committee Mark Sokolich Timothy M. Donohue, a criminal defense attorney and partner at Arleo, Donohue & Biancamano, LLC, in West Orange, New Jersey Donohue, to be paid by Fort Lee, has represented public officials in state and federal jury trials. Mayor Sokolich acquiesced to the request by the borough attorney and council for this "prudent" arrangement as a contingency.

New Jersey Legislative Select Committee on Investigation On January 21, 2014, Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski and State Senate majority leader Loretta Weinberg, whose district includes Fort Lee, announced that the Senate and Assembly committee investigating the matter would merge into the bi-partisan joint New Jersey Legislative Select Committee on Investigation, which they would co-chair and would have 12 members. While the committee initially focused on the Bridgegate scandal, it had the power to investigate other allegations against the Christie administration. On January 24, 2014, the members of the bi-partisan committee were announced; eight Assembly representatives, including five Democrats and three Republicans, and four Senators, including three Democrats and one Republican. At the time, 40% of the members of the New Jersey Legislature were Republican. Besides the two Democratic co-chairs, members included Assemblywoman Marlene Caride (D-Bergen), Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris), Senator Nia Gill (D-Essex), Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex), Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Camden), Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth), Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (D-Bergen), Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen), Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), and an unnamed Republican Senator. On January 27, both houses voted unanimously to combine the investigations, maintaining the partisan balance, and announced Kevin O'Toole's (R-Essex) inclusion despite his mention in a December 5 email from Wildstein to Michael Drewniak. Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty (D-4th Legislative) District subsequently replaced Watson.

United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey In some cases the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey asked the Legislative Select Committee on Investigation to delay in calling witnesses in connection with its own investigations in the lane closures and other matters.

Governor's Office staff subpoenaed by the Joint Legislative Committee