New Jersey Legislature merges Bridgegate investigations

[brooklynite]

Source: Capital New York

The New Jersey Assembly and Senate today announced that they will merge their investigations into the George Washington Bridge closure scandal that has enveloped Chris Christie's administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Former assistant U.S. attorney Reid Schar, who helped in the successful prosecution of former Illionois governor Rod Blagojevich, will act as special counsel to a new joint panel equipped with subpoena power.

Eight Democrats and four Republicans will comprise the 12-member panel, which will be co-chaired by the two legislators who have spearheaded the bridge scandal investigations: Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Senate majority leader Loretta Weinberg, both Democrats.

The Assembly's investigatory panel issued 20 subpoenas last week, many of them to Christie administration officials. Recipients must respond to them by February 3.



Read more: http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/01/8539079/new-jersey-legislature-merges-bridgegat

[Kelvin Mace]

1. That will quash

Christie's attempts to tie the investigation up in court playing one group against the other.

Clever.

[bettyellen]

2. ah, good point.

[herding cats]

3. Alternate link here

Link to the main article in the OP that should work for those without an account. http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/01/8539079/new-jersey-legislature-merges-bridgegate-investigations

Link to story from another website in case it still doesn't work for you.

It will have five Assembly Democrats, three Senate Democrats, three Assembly Republicans and one Senate Republican.

It will be co-chaired Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg.

"This is the optimal approach to ensuring the people of New Jersey get the answers they need to these questions about the abuse of government power," said Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.

“This joint committee provides the most effective and efficient way for the Legislature to uncover the facts and determine exactly what happened,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney.

Read more at http://www.politickernj.com/71007/assembly-senate-merge-investigative-committees#ixzz2r3IPvKjT
or sign up for a free trial of State Street Wire at http://www.politickernj.com/freetrial

[Historic NY]

4. Ah the screws tighten.

[DURHAM D]

5. I absolutely love the timing.

[Botany]

6. Good