Christie to Court but Prosecutor Appointed by Him
Gov. Chris Christie will appear in state Superior Court in Bergen County next month regarding a citizen complaint alleging that the governor committed official misconduct and was involved in the George Washington Bridge lane closures.
The Bergen County prosecutor's office is investigating the complaint, which was initially filed in Fort Lee Municipal Court.
It was filed by local activist Bill Brennan after recent testimony in the federal trial of two former Christie aides who are accused of shutting local access lanes to punish the mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing the governor’s 2013 re-election bid.
Christie has denied having any knowledge of the scheme as it was occurring.
The governor is scheduled to appear in court in Hackensack on Nov. 23 at 1:30 p.m., according to papers filed state Superior Court on Monday. The initial appearance had been scheduled for Oct. 23, but prosecutors and the governor’s attorney agreed to adjourn it until that time.
Last week, the governor's spokesman, Brian Murray, said Christie would "immediately" appeal the ruling by a municipal court judge which found probable cause to investigate the complaint. Murray did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Acting Bergen County prosecutor Gurbir Grewal was appointed by Christie in January and was nominated for a full term by the governor last month.
A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office did not immediately return a request for comment.
Christie is being represented by Craig Carpenito, co-leader of the government and internal investigations group at Alston & Bird LLP in New York City.
Comments