Staffer’s head rolls as Christie looks to save neck over Bridgegate

[brooklynite]

Source: NY Post

Heads are rolling over Bridgegate.

Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday fired the top aide who brazenly plotted the crippling lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, multiple sources told The Post.

He also forced his two-time campaign manager – who was aware of the vengeful scheme and later played a role in the damage control effort – to take his name out of the running to lead New Jersey’s Republican party.

Bridget Anne Kelly, 41, the deputy chief of staff who sent an email to longtime Christie crony and then-Port Authority official David Wildstein that read “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” – was sent packing.

Read more: http://nypost.com/2014/01/09/staffers-head-rolls-as-christie-looks-to-save-neck-over-bridgegate/

[Archae]

1. A really petty, stupid move that blew up in thier faces.

Pretty much your typical republican nowadays.

[brewens]

2. If neither of those two rat him out, I might almost believe he didn't know.

It still doesn't explain why he didn't take action and thought it was no big deal. It all so shows piss poor judgement on his part at the very least having people around that would pull something like that. It might as well have been all him as far as I'm concerned.

[JimDandy]

10. There is no way Christie, the micro-manager didn't know

what was going on. Proving it is a different matter.

[Andy823]

16. Exactly

Christie is the kind of person that has to be in charge of everything, he would have know, if not encouraged, this stupid childish tactic. Seems like the republican way is for the little guys to take the blame for what the big guys do. As long as there are no criminal charges for those who are taking the fall for this, Christie is safe. If those taking the fall are charge with criminal actions, threatened with long jail time, then things may change. If all the comes of this is simply "fines" and the loss of their job, they will keep their mouth shut and be repaid tens times over in the long run.

Let's just hope that there is enough on them that they have to tell the truth instead of spending time in jail. Christie needs to pay for what he did, not get away with it.

[JimDandy]

28. Spot on with your analysis! n/t

[starroute]

12. If he can arrange soft landings for them, not ratting him out is meaningless

It's only if criminal charges -- or at the very least a grand jury with significant subpoena powers -- come into play and they still hold firm that I'd start to have doubts.

But even then, the idea that a governor's top staffers could go behind his back to engage in criminal activity on his behalf seems almost beyond belief.

[brewens]

13. Yeah, string them up, but later they land a nice position as a reward. That goes on

all the time.

[Andy823]

17. I totally agree

The threat of jail time makes people think really hard about taking the heat for something Christie was most likely responsible for, and spending time in jail with possible felony charges on their record. Christie is lying his ass off, and as stated, it is pretty unbelievable that he knew nothing about what was happening, he just isn't that stupid.

[LibGranny]

22. If he truly did NOT know, why did he respond with disparaging jokes when

asked about it (he said he "managed the cones&quot . Told the reporter he couldn't believe he'd ask that question. If he truly did NOT know, where was the empathy shown to those folks who were stuck in traffic all those hours. Shouldn't he have shown some concern for folks affected by this? Is he just such a callous as$hole?

[catbyte]

3. Christie can fire as many people as he wants, but he should fire himself for fostering a culture in

Trenton in which they obviously thought that this sort of despicable conduct was acceptable. Even on the remote chance he didn't know about this, he has obviously surrounded himself with unethical people who don't give a damn about the good of the public.

[SnowCritter]

8. I think that this, more than anything, is the "take-away"

in this story.

[nolabear]

15. Exactly. You don't hire snakes and then be surprised at getting bitten.

[workinclasszero]

4. How long before they rat out Christie?

If criminal charges are filed regarding this case...watch out Christie!

[LynneSin]

5. Personally if I was Bridge Anne Kelly and knew that my ass was possibly heading to jail

I wouldn't think twice about outing anyone and everyone who knows - I'd sing like a songbird.

[workinclasszero]

7. In exchange for immunity of course ;-) /nt

[atreides1]

6. I can see it now

Aide: President Christie, the enemy has landed troops on the California coastline!

President Christie: Quick, arrest the Vice President and have him executed, clearly this was all his fault!!!

[Marthe48]

9. We have met the enemy

and they are us...

[Marthe48]

11. Maybe he can run for mayor of Toronto!

n/t

[oldandhappy]

14. He hired them.

They were loyal to him. This is his culture. This is his style.

[PeoViejo]

19. The Godfather

put's the whack on his crony for violating the 11th Commandment: Don't get caught.

[adirondacker]

24. I wonder if he told staffers "say anything and your family gets it". nt

[magical thyme]

18. let it be a lesson about getting too big for your bridges...

[VWolf]

20. Oh no you didn't

[adirondacker]

25. DUzy!

[watoos]

21. Heard this story before

Oh Scott Walker is going to jail, NOT.

Same old story here, someone should go to jail, but they won't. Nothing to see here but same old Repub dirty tricks.

The Republican old guard got what they wanted, Christie out of the presidential race. Everything is going according to plan.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. Jail is for poor people and Democrats (Which they consider to be the same thing)

[BlueStreak]

26. How could a staffer "be so stupid and so deceitful?" That's MY job.

[SodoffBush]

27. Kelly is a scapegoat, of course. What about Wildstein?

Christie completely threw his old HS buddy under the bus. Eventually, one of these "shit-canned" Christie employees is going to talk.

[George II]

29. I watched the whole press conference - the curious thing I noticed was....

....he said, about Kelly, "I fired her because she lied to me".

NOT because of what she did, but because she lied to him. So one might imply that he was okay with the blockage?

[groundloop]

31. I'd bet the lie was "we've got this handled"

[VA_Jill]

30. I think

that Bridget Anne will sing……just as soon as she gets an agent and a lawyer.

[George II]

32. I'm guessing she's in her late '20s, and on the surface her career in politics is over....

....the only way she can resurrect it would be to sing ("he condoned that behavior&quot