Here's the actual letter from Wildstein's attorney (that the NYT so blandly reported on.)

[pnwmom]

The newspaper's paraphrase is fine, but the letter itself needs to be enjoyed. It's a masterpiece of legal writing, kindly including all sorts of veiled threats.

I knew the P.A. was making a mistake when it tried to cut him loose, but gave attorneys to other ex-employees. Now the P.A. does, too.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/01/nyregion/bridge-letter.html

[ProSense]

1. Thanks

[pnwmom]

2. Glad you enjoyed it!

[ProSense]

4. I wonder if that letter is

somehow related to this:

Port Authority Refuses To Pay Christie Pal's Legal Bills
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024384660

The letter reads like a request for legal support.

[pnwmom]

6. Yes, the letter is a direct result of that refusal. Did you see this?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/nyregion/christie-bridge.html?_r=0

[ProSense]

28. Thanks. n/t

[Egnever]

3. Interesting read

Thanks.

[Swede Atlanta]

5. Pop the popcorn...this is going to be fun....

[kentuck]

7. Sounds like a threat...

...either you pay for my representation, and make sure that he has the connections to find me innocent in a court of law, or I will show proof that Governor Christie knew about the lane closings as they were happening.

Or a bribe?

[Laxman]

8. Unless They Refuse To Comply....

with the subpoenas on Monday (and they might) they're going to get the briefing books and activity logs from the Governor's office in the document production. There are going to be e-mails and phone call records that the lanes were closed in information provided to the governor as part of his daily routine. Wildstein had to know this and is chirping before this stuff shows up.

[pnwmom]

9. Doesn't it seem odd that Christie ever thought he could cover this up? It's amazing

what hubris will do to a person.

[Laxman]

10. You Hit The Nail On The Head...

that is the theme of this administration. Unbridled hubris. They thought they were the biggest toughest kids on the block and thought they would never get called on this. Well guess what. Ralphie is beating the crap out of Farkus!

[longship]

34. He had yellow eyes... YELLOW EYES.

Love Jean Shepherd!

And Bart Farkus was an iconic Shepherd character.

[FarCenter]

11. This is the best paragraph ---

Subsequent to Mr. Wildstein testifying, there have been reports that certain Commissioners of the Port Authority have been connected directly or indirectly to land deals involving the Port Authority, that Port Authority funds were allocated to projects connected to persons who supported the administration of Governor Chris Christie or whose political support he sought, with some of the projects having no relationship to the business of the Port Authority, and that Port Authority funds were held back from those who refused to support the Governor.

If Wally Edge has evidence to back up these reports, it is dynamite!

Wildstein may be going for the "Samson Option" if he isn't supported!

[Glitterati]

12. It's simple. Wildstein is trying to beat Bridget Kelly to immunity

Once the dam breaks, and the first one starts to talk, anything else the others have to say (can prove) is worthless.

Bridget has been very quiet, but the Christie attorney dropped her on her head............for a reason.......

[lapislzi]

16. You don't think Ms Kelly is being taken care of?

Her silence is likely worth its weight in...she will surface quietly and go on to continue a lucrative career.

Did Christie offer Wildstein any kind of carrot like that? Doubtful. Poor Wildstein, twisting in the wind. No wonder he sang.

[Glitterati]

23. First, Wildstein isn't singing yet......he's promising to sing.....

Hell no, Bridget isn't being taken care of. She was, by Christie's attorney. Until earlier this week, when he just up and quit. No reason, no "conflict of interest," just incompatibility with Bridget's case......

Yeah, Bridget is going to protect herself and her daughter. She has no choice, she's a single Mom who Christie has thrown to the wolves.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/GWB_scandal_Lawyer-for-ex-Christie_aid_Bridget_Anne_Kelly_steps_down_citing_conflict.html

[Spazito]

13. Knowing that this guy, Wildstein, took screen shots of instant messages...

between him and Kelly and included them in his document submission to the original transportation investigative committee, it strikes me he would also have evidence on more than just Kelly. He was thrown over the 'bridge' not once but twice, by Christie and then by the Port Authority. If he gets immunity it will be very bad news not just for Christie but for David Sampson as well, imo.

[rocktivity]

18. Christie is protecting Samson, his chief of staff, and his chief attorney like crazy

because they report to him directly -- and if they knew then there's no way that Christie didn't.

The chief of staff is in limbo because Governor Soprano's promotion of him to attorney general was thwarted. And Samson's law firm was fired by the Hoboken real estate development group less than a day ago. Stay tuned.


roctivity

[Spazito]

24. Wow, I didn't know the Rockerfeller Group fired Samson's law firm!

I googled and found the NYT article on this, it makes for very interesting reading. Thanks for the heads up on this! They are running as far away from Samson as they can.

"Hoboken Site Developer Dismisses Law Firm

Rockefeller Group, a real estate developer whose proposed office complex in Hoboken, N.J., is at the center of allegations that associates of Gov. Chris Christie threatened to withhold Hurricane Sandy relief money from the city unless the project received approval, has severed its connections with a law firm with close ties to the governor.

Rockefeller Group said on Thursday that last week it had terminated its contract with the firm, Wolff & Samson, ending a relationship that began in 2007.

“Given the investigation,” Dwayne Doherty, a spokesman for Rockefeller Group, said, “we’ve decided to shift our work on the project to another firm.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/nyregion/hoboken-site-developer-dismisses-law-firm.html

[rocktivity]

26. DU-er Laxman is updating as fast as s/he can, LOL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024395877


rocktivity

[Spazito]

29. Thanks for the link! Excellent resource, have it bookmarked now...

thanks again!

[Oilwellian]

14. But the governor said it was all a mystery to him

[malaise]

33. Yes indeed

[Oilwellian]

36. Hey there

[mstinamotorcity2]

15. I love it when they get caught.

I wonder how long the Republicans are going to keep saying if he has done nothing he will be fine for 2016. I thought he was fine for 2016 before. I was waiting to pull out every rotten thing we already knew about Mr. Crispy.

[rocktivity]

17. What other ex-employees got attorneys?

Last edited Fri Jan 31, 2014, 07:49 PM - Edit history (2)

Boroni did not testify under oath, and it looks like he did not testify truthfully. But he did testify, yet his request for payment of his legal bills is still "under consideration." Whereas Wildstein wants to be compensated with either legal fees for taking that fifth or immunity in exchange for his testimony.


rocktivity

[dinger130]

19. If I was Christie's anus,

I would be puckering up quite a bit. Oh, boy.......

[Egnever]

20. Based on this letter I think the media is making a huge leap

Gotta get those clicks I suppose.

But how you go from "Mr wieldstien contests the accuracy of various statements the governor made about him and he can prove the inaccuracy of some"

To there is proof that Christy knew is beyond me.

I am really getting sick of the state our journalism is in in the US.

Thanks again for the link I only wish there was more actual reporting of the contents of the letter and less wild seculation about it,

[pnwmom]

25. Christie's office is already backtracking. They're no longer saying that they didn't know till after

it was all over.

Now they're only saying they didn't have prior knowledge. But the closures went on for 4 days and Christie didn't do anything -- it was the PA head who finally opened the lanes again.

[rocktivity]

32. Depends on what the meaning of "prior" is

"Prior" as in prior to the first week of September 2013 when the closings actually took plae? Or "prior" as in during the period from the second week of September 2013 to when Wildstein and Baroni resigned?


rocktivity

[renate]

37. and even if that were true--which I doubt--

That is a nuance that nobody is going to care about. Christie is done and done-r.

What on earth could his office have been thinking, making Wildstein pay for his own lawyer? STUPID STUPID STUPID. Thank goodness for their hubris.

[Egnever]

40. agree with that whole heartedly

I dont know if there will ever be any direct evidence but the hubris is what will bring him down.

[rocktivity]

43. The direct evidence is that there IS no direct evidence.

If "Governor Soprano" is telling truth, he would have fired everyone at least month sooner (not allowed them to resign), and to insure the integrity of the resulting investigation, he would have called in the Feds himself.

You think it's out of loyalty that he's standing beside David Samson and his chief counsel? Unlike Bridget, they report directly to him, so what they know Christie either also knew, or should have. You think it's just a coincidence that he tried to make his chief of staff the next inspector general, or that he just installed a new ethics commissioner? That way, the state-level investigation, at least, is automatically compromised. You think was a mechanical glitch that caused the air pollution monitoring equipment near the bridge shut down during the lane closures? If they hadn't, the readings probably would have set off an alarm that probably would have gotten the lanes reopened.

Christie not only knew, he masterminded it down to the last details. Nothing points directly to him because he arranged it that way -- and he's the only person with the power to arrange it that way.


rocktivity

[heaven05]

21. cool, I hope it sticks like glue

to soon, ex-gov christie, I hope. Lt. gov not much better though. Hope special election will be needed.

[iandhr]

22. RE: making a mistake when it tried to cut him loose, but gave attorneys to other ex-employees.

If they did that he might have been willing to do the political thing and drop on his sword.


Since the didn't he is singing and I love it.

[gopiscrap]

27. Love it

Don't Christie will be able to survive his term as Gov.

[AAO]

30. Chris Christie is in big trouble. (I can dream, can't I?)

[duggie99]

31. Going down Christy

I told my husband when you have this many people involved someone is going to cough up the truth. We haven't even heard from Miss Bridgette yet.

Bye Bye Christy and I won't miss you at all!!!!

[Spazito]

35. This part of the letter is also a direct 'shot across the bow' aimed at David Samson...

"Subsequent to Mr. Wildstein testifying, there have been reports that certain Commissioners of the Port Authority have been directly or indirectly to land deals involving the Port Authority, that Port Authority funds were allocated to projects connected to persons who supported the administration of Governor Chris Christie or whose political support he sought, with some of the projects having no relationship to the business of the Port Authority, and that Port Authority funds were held back from those who refused to support the Governor."

[pnwmom]

41. Yup. LOL. n/t

[msanthrope]

38. Oh...the Port Authority did the right thing in refusing to pay his legal fees...

he's gonna sing like a canary.

[Jefferson23]

39. Wow.I don't think I have ever pulled out a bag of popcorn on an event.

I am so enjoying this.

So how long before Christie is caught on tape bullying someone due to stress? lol

[Cha]

42. thank you, pnwmom.. watching

Rachel now.

The PA threw Wildstein to the The People of New Jersey and now Wild is throwing Christie to the People of New Jersey. It so followed.. what were they thinking?!! Glad they weren't.