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Christie used bridge authority to gain endorsements

Christie has denied that the two had a close relationship, but Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye testified that Wildstein was "protected" by Christie at the Port Authority.

FORT LEE, N.J. (AP) Motorists are facing delays because crews are cleaning up a fuel spill caused by a jackknifed tractor-trailer on the George Washington Bridge.

Friday's accident occurred just before a former Port Authority of NY and New Jersey official who pleaded guilty in the bridge lane-closing case took the stand in the trial of two former allies of Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Just before the start of what could be a week of testimony from Wildstein, a tractor-trailer jackknifed on the George Washington Bridge, leading to a fuel spill that closed some lanes going to New Jersey.

On the spreadsheet next to Sokolich's name, Christie's staffers listed a number of favors, including the purchase of shuttle buses for Fort Lee, which was paid for by the Port Authority.

They suggested that Foye, a Cuomo appointee and executive director of the Port Authority, ended the lane closings to be a "hero" but then lied to the public for months about what happened. Kelly was Christie's deputy chief of staff and headed an office responsible for outreach to county and municipal officials.

Mowers, who worked under Kelly in a department tasked with securing endorsements from Democratic mayors, said that on the first day of the closures Kelly sent him an email asking how Sokolich was doing, CBS2's Christine Sloan reports. Federal Courthouse for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Wildstein, pleaded guilty previous year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse Gov. Chris Christie.

Wildstein pleaded guilty previous year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a mayor who didn't endorse Christie.

Wildstein has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify against Kelly and Baroni in the coming days.

"The one-constituent rule meant that the only person who mattered was Governor Christie", Wildstein said.

Defense attorneys in their opening statements implied he was foisted on Baroni, who technically was Wildstein's superior, by Christie because Baroni wasn't deemed tough enough. The lawyers called Wildstein an "evil mastermind" who was an intimidating force for Christie.

Wildstein alleged in court that both Christie and his former campaign manager Bill Stepien were among those who discussed creating traffic gridlock at the George Washington Bridge (pictured) in 2013. They also have said other people with more power and influence were involved in the lane closures but aren't being prosecuted. When questioned about the meaning of that phrase, Wildstein said that there were a number of things the Port Authority could give to various towns and administrations. He said it was a narrative suggested by Baroni and Wildstein. When he told her he had not heard from the mayor, she answered, "Okay, that's all I need to know". Wildstein said that Baroni was fully aware of his regular communications with Kelly.

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Christie used bridge authority to gain endorsements