The Latest: Christie denies he knew about lane closures

The Latest: Christie denies he knew about lane closures


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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The Latest in the criminal trial of two former allies of Republican Gov. Chris Christie who are accused of plotting George Washington Bridge lane closings in a 2013 political revenge scheme. (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is responding to testimony in court that he was told about plans to close lanes of the George Washington Bridge.

A spokesman for the Republican governor said Friday night that Christie had "no knowledge prior to or during these lane re-alignment" and "no role in authorizing them."

Brian Murray says anything "said to the contrary is simply untrue."

Christie's former deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, testified Friday that she told Christie about a traffic study a month before it happened.

Prosecutors and David Wildstein, the self-described mastermind of the scheme, say that traffic study was just a cover story for a political revenge plot against a Democratic mayor who wouldn't endorse Christie.

Christie has denied he had any knowledge about the lane closures, and hasn't been charged.

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1:30 p.m.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's former deputy chief of staff says she told him about plans for a traffic study on the George Washington Bridge a month before they began in 2013.

Bridget Kelly is testifying Friday in her own defense while on trial on charges that she helped plot bridge lane closings for political revenge against a Democratic mayor who wouldn't endorse the Republican governor.

She said she told Christie about a traffic study but did not testify that she told him it was actually to get back at the Fort Lee mayor as prosecutors allege.

After speaking to Christie, she sent an email to David Wildstein saying it was "time for some traffic problems." Wildstein, the self-described mastermind of the plot, has pleaded guilty in the case.

Christie has denied he had any knowledge about the lane closures, and hasn't been charged.

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Noon

One of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's top political advisers says he told him that two of his staffers knew about the George Washington Bridge lane closings before the governor said no one in his administration knew.

Mike DuHaime testified Friday that he told Christie before a December 2013 news conference that his then-deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, and campaign manager, Bill Stepien, knew about the lane closures.

Christie has denied he had any knowledge about the lane closures, and hasn't been charged. A spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kelly then took the stand to testify in her own defense.

She is on trial along with another former Christie ally whom prosecutors say launched the bridge closings as revenge against a mayor who wouldn't endorse Christie.

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12:02 a.m.

The former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who prosecutors say sent the "time for some traffic problems" email that started the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal is set to testify in her own defense.

Bridget Kelly is expected to take the stand later Friday in federal court in Newark.

She was Christie's deputy chief of staff and is on trial along with a former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive whom prosecutors say launched the plot as revenge against a Democratic mayor who wouldn't endorse Christie.

Prosecutors say Kelly sent the email to David Wildstein, the self-described mastermind of the plot who has pleaded guilty and is the government's key witness.

Christie has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.

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