The court said that the government had overreached in prosecuting Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni for their roles in creating a massive traffic jam to punish a New Jersey mayor who refused to endorse the reelection of then-Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
The court concluded the government had overreached in prosecuting Christie allies Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni for their roles in creating a traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge as political payback for a Democratic mayor who declined to support the Republican governor’s reelection. Kelly was Christie’s onetime deputy chief of staff. Baroni was a top Christie appointee to the Port Authority, the operator of the New York area’s bridges, tunnels, airports and ports.
Kelly and Baroni were convicted of fraud and conspiracy for plotting in 2013 to change the traffic flow onto the George Washington Bridge between New York City and New Jersey to artificially create gridlock in New Jersey’s Fort Lee. The traffic change came after Fort Lee’s mayor declined to endorse Christie.
NEW: In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has overturned the convictions of key aides to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the so-called Bridgegate scandal.
The officials were originally convicted of fraud and sentenced to varying prison terms.
— NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) May 7, 2020
BREAKING: The U.S. Supreme Court tosses the federal government’s case in the infamous “Bridgegate” scandal, clearing the convictions of two allies of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie https://t.co/Gmg3ToZLYB
— POLITICO (@politico) May 7, 2020