It’s been one whole year since the words “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” rang ’round the world and we found out that the George Washington Bridge lane closures were initiated by people very close to you, causing four days’ worth of traffic jams. Time sure goes by fast, doesn’t it?
In case you’ve forgotten what it felt like to read the headlines that day, we’ve compiled them here for your reading pleasure. Maybe it will help take your mind off all the bad press you’re getting for over your ethics problems with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones? Enjoy!
New York Times: Christie Faces Scandal on Traffic Jam Aides Ordered
“The mystery of who closed two lanes onto the George Washington Bridge — turning the borough of Fort Lee, N.J., into a parking lot for four days in September — exploded into a full-bore political scandal for Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday. Emails and texts revealed that a top aide had ordered the closings to punish the town’s mayor after he did not endorse the governor for re-election.”
New York Post: Christie could face criminal probe over ‘Bridgegate’
“‘This smells of corrupt use of government authority at the highest levels,’ said Democratic State Sen. Ray Lesniak, who called for a federal grand-jury probe, rather than a state investigation that could be influenced by the Christie administration.”
Wall Street Journal: Bridge-Spat Emails Pose Questions For Christie
“…[T]he image of a popular Republican governor punishing a less-powerful Democratic mayor and his constituents for a political reason threatens to undermine one of Mr. Christie’s central arguments for himself.”
Washington Post: E-mails suggest Christie aides jammed traffic as political revenge
“A series of e-mails and text messages disclosed Wednesday show that a senior aide and appointees of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie forced days of traffic jams as apparent political retribution against a Democratic mayor, throwing a cloud of scandal over the Republican Party’s leading 2016 presidential hopeful.”
The Record: Christie stuck in a jam over GWB lane closings
“A cache of private messages linking Governor Christie’s office to vindictive lane closures at the George Washington Bridge in September plunged the administration into a deep crisis on Wednesday, threatening Christie’s national profile as a straight-talker and feeding criticism that his administration has used its power to bully political enemies.
“The explosive e-mails and text messages…sparked a political firestorm that extended far beyond New Jersey and Fort Lee — which was gridlocked for days as a result of the closures — and appeared destined to stretch into the foreseeable future.”
TIME: Emails Suggest Christie Staff Snarled Traffic For Political Revenge
“Emails and text messages…show senior Christie staffers discussing how to snarl traffic in Fort Lee, N.J., whose Democratic mayor declined to endorse Christie’s reelection campaign, weeks before lane closures snarled traffic on the New Jersey side of George Washington Bridge in September, causing gridlock that coincided with the first day of school.”
Published: Jan 8, 2015