List of people involved in the Fort Lee lane closure scandal

Fort Lee lane closure scandal
Company type	Political scandal
Industry	Politics, Government
Founded	2013
Headquarters	Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States
Key people	Chris Christie, David Wildstein, Bill Baroni, Bridget Anne Kelly, Paul J. Fishman

The Fort Lee lane closure scandal, frequently referred to as the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal or simply Bridgegate, represents a significant U.S. political scandal involving aides and political appointees linked to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. These individuals deliberately arranged lane shutdowns at the toll plaza of the George Washington Bridge, causing severe traffic congestion in Fort Lee, New Jersey, with the intent to retaliate against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for his lack of political support toward Christie.

Three people faced charges brought by Paul J. Fishman. Among them, David Wildstein, an official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), admitted guilt and cooperated with prosecutors. Former PANYNJ deputy executive director Bill Baroni and former deputy chief of staff to Governor Christie, Bridget Anne Kelly, were indicted on conspiracy and fraud allegations but entered not guilty pleas.

Fishman also disclosed a roster of unindicted co-conspirators—individuals who either knew about the lane closures or were involved in potential cover-up activities but were not formally charged. The publication of these names has sparked controversy and remains under judicial review by Judge Susan Davis Wigenton. While legal counsel may access this list, it is kept confidential pending court rulings.

During testimony in September 2016, Wildstein indicated that Governor Christie, political advisors Bill Stepien and Michael DuHaime, along with PANYNJ figures such as David Samson, Pat Schuber, and Philip Kwon, were informed about both the lane closures and subsequent efforts to conceal them.

Key people

Person	Position	Details
Port Authority (PA)
Bill Baroni	Deputy Executive Director (Appointed by Christie)	Resigned on December 13, 2013; oversaw David Wildstein; accused of involvement in planning and covering up the toll lane shutdowns.
Patrick "Pat" Foye	Executive Director (Appointed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo)	Expressed criticism of the closures via email; directed reopening of affected local toll lanes on September 13, 2013.
David Samson	Chairman of PA Board of Commissioners (Appointed by Christie) Partner at Wolff & Samson law firm	Connected to post-closure events through subpoenaed communications; faced allegations of conflict of interest; stepped down March 28, 2014.
David Wildstein	Director of Interstate Capital Projects (Recommended by Christie; hired under Baroni)	Ordered the lane closures and withheld information from Fort Lee officials and the public; resigned December 13, 2013; position eliminated February 4, 2014.
Governor's Office
Chris Christie	Governor of New Jersey	Initially denied knowledge of aides' actions until media reports emerged on January 8, 2014; cleared by law firm investigation but faced public criticism.
Michael Drewniak	Press Secretary to Christie	Handled communications for both governor's office and PA; testified before federal grand jury on April 4, 2014.
Regina Egea	Director of Authorities Unit	Recipient of Foye’s September 13, 2013 email; was a candidate to replace O'Dowd as New Jersey Attorney General pending confirmation.
Bridget Anne Kelly	Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs	Authored August 13, 2013 email stating: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee"; dismissed January 9, 2014.
Charlie McKenna	Chief Counsel to Christie	Led investigation into governor's office involvement in December 2013; appointed director of New Jersey Schools Development Authority that same month.
Kevin O'Dowd	Chief of Staff to Christie	Co-led internal investigation; nominated for State Attorney General in December 2013 but confirmation delayed due to conflict concerns.
Bill Stepien	Political Consultant and Campaign Manager for Christie (2009, 2013 elections); Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intergovernmental Affairs	Removed January 8, 2014 from advisory role and GOP State Chairman nomination following subpoenaed emails; subsequently worked with GOP consulting groups FLS Connect and GOPAC.
State and Federal Investigators
Paul J. Fishman	United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey	Initiated investigation in January 2014; previously served before Christie's tenure.
Reid Schar	Special Counsel to Joint Special Investigative Committee for New Jersey Legislature	Supported legal aspects of probe; affiliated with law firm representing Assembly Democrats in redistricting litigation.
Loretta Weinberg	Co-chair of Joint Special Investigative Committee for New Jersey Legislature	Democratic State Senate Majority Leader; committee established January 27, 2014 to oversee inquiry.
John Wisniewski	Co-chair of Joint Special Investigative Committee and Chair of Assembly Transportation Committee	Deputy Speaker and Democratic Assembly member who initiated hearings in November 2013 and issued subpoenas related to toll lane closures and cover-up efforts.

Legal counsel for principal individuals and entities

Client	Attorneys	Remarks and notable qualifications
Port Authority (PA)
Bill Baroni	Michael B. Himmel, partner at Lowenstein Sandler's offices in New York and Roseland, NJ	Previously represented Solomon Dwek, the informant in Operation Bid Rig III which implicated multiple New Jersey politicians
David Samson	Michael Chertoff, senior of counsel at Covington & Burling, Washington, D.C.; Angelo J. Genova, senior partner and co-founder of Genova Burns LLC, Newark	Chertoff, former U.S. Attorney and Homeland Security Secretary, held a no-bid Port Authority security contract; Genova served as a PA Board Commissioner
David Wildstein	Alan L. Zegas, criminal defense lawyer at Law Offices of Alan L. Zegas, Chatham, NJ
Philip Kwon	Geoffrey S. Berman, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig's New Jersey branch	Former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York; participated as associate counsel in the Iran-Contra investigation
Office of the Governor
Christie's Office of the Governor (including five staff members)	Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, with partner Randy M. Mastro from the New York office	Engaged in January 2014 to support investigations and handle official inquiries following subpoena revelations
Bridget Anne Kelly	Michael Critchley, Sr., founder of Critchley, Kinum & Vazquez, Roseland, NJ	Took over from Walter F. Timpone due to a conflict of interest; Timpone was Christie's appointed vice-chairman of the Election Law Enforcement Commission
Bill Stepien	Kevin Marino, principal and founder of Marino, Tortorella & Boyle, Chatham, NJ
Additional individuals or entities
Christie's 2013 re-election campaign	Patton Boggs, including partner Mark D. Sheridan, Newark office	Officially registered as Chris Christie for Governor Inc.; firm closed Newark office relocating to Florham Park
New Jersey Republican State Committee	Patton Boggs, including partner Mark D. Sheridan	Acts as general counsel for the Republican State Committee
Mark Sokolich	Timothy M. Donohue, criminal defense attorney and partner at Arleo, Donohue & Biancamano LLC, West Orange, NJ	Compensation provided by Fort Lee; Donohue has defended public officials in both state and federal courts; arrangement deemed prudent by borough authorities

New Jersey Legislative Select Committee on Investigation

On January 21, 2014, Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski and State Senate majority leader Loretta Weinberg announced the consolidation of the Senate and Assembly panels probing the Bridgegate controversy into a bipartisan joint entity named the New Jersey Legislative Select Committee on Investigation. They agreed to co-chair this 12-member committee. Although its initial focus was Bridgegate, the committee held jurisdiction to examine other allegations concerning the Christie administration.

The bipartisan composition was revealed on January 24, 2014: eight Assembly members (five Democrats and three Republicans) alongside four Senators (three Democrats and one Republican). At that time, Republicans comprised 40% of the legislature. Members included Assemblywoman Marlene Caride (D-Bergen), Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris), Senator Nia Gill (D-Essex), Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex), Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Camden), Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth), Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (D-Bergen), Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen), Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), plus an unnamed Republican Senator.

On January 27, both legislative chambers unanimously approved merging their investigations while preserving partisan balance. They also included Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex) despite his being referenced in a December 5 email connected to the scandal. Subsequently, Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty (D-4th Legislative District) replaced Watson Coleman.

United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey

The United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey sought a delay from the Legislative Select Committee on Investigation regarding witness testimonies pertaining to lane closures and related issues. These postponement requests involved several Port Authority officials, such as executive director Patrick Foye, senior counsel Nicole Crifo, deputy executive director Deborah Gramiccioni, deputy chief counsel Philip Kwon, senior adviser Philippe Danielides, and police union leader Paul Nunziato.

Governor's Office personnel subpoenaed by the Joint Legislative Committee

Governor's Office personnel subpoenaed by the Joint Legislative Committee
Office of the Governor	Custodian of Records	Also subpoenaed by US Attorney
Jeanne Ashmore	Director of Constituent Relations
Maria Comella	Communications Director
Nicole Crifo	Senior Counsel to the Authorities Unit	Testimony deferred at US Attorney's request
Michael Drewniak	Spokesperson, Governor's Office	Provided testimony May 13, 2014; also testified April 4, 2014 in federal inquiry
Regina Egea	Incoming Chief of Staff	Testified July 17, 2014; admitted deleting texts related to Bridgegate
Rosemary Iannacone	Director of Operations
Bridget Anne Kelly	Former Deputy Chief of Staff	Pleaded Fifth Amendment
Paul Matey	Deputy Chief Counsel
Charles McKenna	Former Chief Counsel to the Governor	Testimony postponed upon US Attorney’s request
Kevin O'Dowd	Chief of Staff	Testified June 9, 2014; denied prior involvement or awareness of lane closures
Barbara Panebianco	Executive Assistant to Bridget Anne Kelly
Christopher Porrino	Chief Counsel
Colin Reed	Spokesperson
Christina Genovese Renna	Director of Departmental Relations, Governor’s Office	Testified May 6, 2014; addressed office dynamics and political influences
Evan J. Ridley	Aide, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

Christie for Governor campaign and associates subpoenaed by the Joint Legislative Committee

Christie for Governor campaign staff subpoenaed by the Joint Legislative Committee
Christie for Governor, Inc	Re-election campaign
Michael DuHaime	Political adviser to Christie
Nicole Davidman	GOP fundraiser
Matt Mowers	Campaign staff Former aide, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs	Testified May 20, 2014
Bill Stepien	Former Campaign Manager for Christie Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor’s Office	Invoked Fifth Amendment

PANYNJ officials interviewed or subpoenaed by New Jersey Legislature committees

PANYNJ officials interviewed or subpoenaed by New Jersey Legislature committees
Bill Baroni	Deputy Executive Director	Interviewed November 25, 2013 by Assembly Transportation Committee; testimony documents subpoenaed by US Attorney in January 2015
Matthew Bell	Special assistant to Baroni
Steve Coleman	Deputy Director of Media Relations
Phillipe Danielides	Senior Adviser to Chairman	Testimony postponement requested by US Attorney
Gretchen DiMarco	Assistant to Baroni
Robert Durando	General Manager GWB Bridge	Provided testimony December 9, 2013 to Assembly Transportation Committee (not under oath)
Pat Foye	Executive Director	Testified December 9, 2013 before Assembly Transportation Committee; testimony delayed at US Attorney's request
Cedrick Fulton	Director of Bridges, Tunnels and Terminals	Testified December 9, 2013 Assembly Transportation Committee (not sworn)
Philip Kwon	Deputy General Counsel	Testimony delayed upon US Attorney’s request; subpoenaed federally
Cristina Lado	Director for Government and Community Affairs
John Ma	Chief of Staff to Foye
Mark Muriello	Assistant Director of Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals
Paul Nunziato	PA police officer and President of PBA union	Requested delay in testimony by US Attorney
David Samson	Chairman	Initially released some documents; later invoked Fifth Amendment privilege
Pat Schuber	Commissioner	Provided testimony June 3, 2014 before Select Committee on Investigations
Arielle Schwarz	Special assistant to David Wildstein
David Wildstein	Director of Interstate Capital Projects	Submitted documents December 19, 2013; invoked Fifth Amendment during testimony on January 9, 2015

References