Ex-Christie ally and Bridgegate mastermind avoids prison

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The mastermind of the Bridgegate lane closure scandal, which helped derail New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's presidential ambitions, avoided a prison sentence on Wednesday, after U.S. prosecutors praised his help in their investigation.

David Wildstein, 55, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and a high school classmate of Christie's, provided the key evidence that led to the conviction of two Christie allies.

"Were it not for Mr. Wildstein's cooperation, it is unlikely that we are even here today," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Cortes told U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton in federal court in Newark, New Jersey.

The judge sentenced Wildstein to three years of probation, noting that he was the only figure in the scandal to accept responsibility for his actions.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

#U.S.
JULY 12, 2017 / 6:07 AM / 3 HOURS AGO

Joseph Ax


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-jersey-bridgegate-idUSKBN19X16H

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Prosecutors are faced with having insufficent evidence for even one conviction.

It's a trade-off of getting a result for all the work and money involved in a criminal case.

They offer immunity or a reduction or elimination of penalty in exchange for evidence (documents, testimony) that has to be near surefire to convict others.

Prosecutors in this case had a choice of Wildstein walking away with or without Bridget Anne Kelly and Bill Barrone. He was going to walk either way.

[yallerdawg]

2. It took down the darling of the so-called 'centrists' like Joe and Mika!

Just goes to show - the underlings in fawning fatuous service to the 'Grand Poohbah' can end everything!

[not fooled]

3. Yeah,

at least this investigation helped prevent Christie from getting close to being a likely presidential nominee.

Never forget that beforehand the snooze media propped up and depicted this short-tempered bully as legitimate presidential material.