Politics & Government

UPDATE: Christie Cancels Manahawkin Visit In Wake Of Growing Scandal

Faced with a growing political scandal, Gov. Chris Christie canceled an appearance at the Stafford Township Volunteer Fire Company Wednesday morning where he was supposed to announce a Superstorm Sandy "housing recovery milestone."

The event was supposed to get underway at 11 a.m. at the firehouse at 133 Stafford Avenue. But the governor reversed course after news reports showed top officials close to Christie were possibly involved in the growing scandal.

An email from the governor's press office sent at about 10:30 a.m. said only that the event would be "postponed to a later date," but offered no reason for the postponement.

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Messages released Wednesday show that top officials close to Christie were involved in Fort Lee lane closures that some have suggested were payback for the Fort Lee mayor not endorsing Christie's reelection bid.

The emails between high-level gubernatorial aides and Port Authority officials contradict statements by Christie, who said his staff and campaign had nothing to do with the closure of local access lanes to the George Washington Bridge that caused a week worth of traffic jams for North Jersey residents.

Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Emails obtained by The New York Times and The Record show Bridget Anne Kelly, a deputy chief of staff to the governor, told a Port Authority official close to Christie that it was “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” about two weeks before the lanes were closed.

“Got it,” replied the Port Authority executive, David Wildstein, who resigned last month as national media and incensed local politicians turned up the heat on the scandal.

Some are predicting the fracas could prove troublesome for Christie, who is widely believed to be planning a run for the White House in 2016.


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