Wildstein Attorney: Christie Knew

From Politicker NJ:

NEWARK — The attorney of former Port Authority official David Wildstein said today that his client “deeply regrets” his involvement in the closing of commuters lanes at the mouth of the George Washington Bridge in September 2013 — and later alleged that there is evidence Gov. Chris Christie, who appointed Wildstein to his post at the bi-state agency, knew about the incident as it was happening.

Speaking to a crowd of press outside the federal courthouse where Wildstein plead guilty to his involvement in the closures, Alan Zagas said that Wildstein “regrets what was done” but has now “agreed to fully cooperate” with U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman’s office as the case unfolds. Fishman left the courthouse moments before Wildstein and Zagas addressed the press.

“There is a lot more that will come out,” Zagas said, adding that he is “unfortuantely not in a position” to comment further.

...

Asked — via shouts from clamouring reporters — whether “Chris Christie” knew about Wildstein’s decision to shut down the lanes, Zaga said only that the Republican “knew of the lane closures while they were occuring” — a claim Wildstein reportedly made earlier in the investigation.

Would the feds make a deal with Wildstein simply to get former Christie cronies Bill Baroni and Brdiget Anne Kelly, both of whom were indicted today?

Seems unlikely to me.

We don't want to get too far ahead here but the deal with Wildstein seems to suggest that the feds are working their way up the chain, set to squeeze Baroni and Kelly and ultimately take down Christie.

And make no mistake, those two may have something to divulge when squeezed:

Mr. Christie did not appear to be implicated in the indictments, and has steadfastly denied any participation in the scheme. However, Mr. Baroni was quoted in the indictment as saying the lane closings were “important to Trenton.”

In any case, Wildstein has now admitted that the conspiracy was hatched as revenge against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee and that the plot emanated right out of Christie's office.