Politics & Government

Former Christie Aide Mum in Court Fearing Self-Incrimination

State investigative hearing scheduled to continue on March 25.

Bridget Anne Kelly, the former Gov. Christie aide said to have sparked the Bridgegate scandal with her alleged “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” message, pleaded the fifth in a Mercer County courthouse Wednesday.

Reporters, photographers and protesters swarmed the nary-seen Kelly, 41, upon her arrival at the courthouse, according to My9.

Kelly, of Ramsey, was silent before the legislative investigative committee however, as her attorney Michael Critchley argued that were she to comply with investigators’ subpoenas she would be violating her fifth amendment right against self-incrimination. 

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The fact that we’re making arguments grounded in Fifth Amendment should not be construed by anyone that we are indicating that our clients are guilty of anything,” Critchley said.

The attorney also called for the “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” email to be authenticated, since to admit responsibility for its authorship would also cause self-incrimination.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hearings are expected to continue on March 25.

Messages released in January suggest top officials close to Gov. Chris Christie were involved with the lane closures last year that some have suggested were payback for the Fort Lee mayor crossing the New Jersey governor during his bid for re-election. 

The controversy has grown over the proceeding months as state and federal investigations have widened, implicating several members of the governor's close cabinet of allies. 


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