2 new panels to probe Christie scandal
New Jersey Democrats are forming two new investigative committees to further investigate the transportation scandal that has rocked the administration of Republican Gov. Chris Christie, the latest sign that the 2016 presidential candidate’s downfall is far from over.
According to Monday’s announcement, the state Assembly committee is chaired by Rep. John Wisniewski and has subpoena power and a special counsel. State Sen. Loretta Weinberg will lead a separate panel in the other chamber, also with subpoena power, Senate President Steve Sweeney said. Democrats control both houses of the New Jersey state legislature.
Last week, when it was revealed that several top aides planned to close lanes of the George Washington Bridge in a political vendetta, Christie fired his deputy chief of staff and parted ways with his campaign manager. “We’ve made great progress in uncovering what really happened here in terms of threats to public safety and abuses of power, but there are a lot of unanswered questions,” Wisniewski said in a statement. “Evidence that has come to light in recent weeks makes it clear that this has now moved beyond the transport issue and is reaching the highest levels of the executive branch. A coordinated and focused investigation with increased resources is now needed.”
The Assembly panel will be a “super committee” designed to “continue to build on the good work done by the Transportation Committee this session,” new Chairman Vincent Prieto said at a news conference Monday. “I want to make sure that we give all the tools and resources to this committee to really leave no stone unturned.” Meanwhile, Sweeney promised the cooperation of the Senate with his colleagues working in the General Assembly “to get to the end as quickly as possible.”
A senior Democratic aide with knowledge of the Assembly committee told POLITICO that one of the top priorities will likely be subpoenaing Bridget Anne Kelly, the deputy chief of staff whom Christie fired last week. The general assembly statement noted that members of the Democratic leadership are appointing others with “legal and investigative backgrounds” to the committee. A spokesman for Christie did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
