TRENTON, N.J. _ Two former associates of New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie have filed appeals to have their November convictions in the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal overturned.
In documents made available Friday, attorneys for former Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni and former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly make the case that they are not guilty in the traffic plot and they should either be acquitted or get a new trial.
Although Baroni and Kelly had filed their intent to appeal earlier this year, their formal arguments were filed with the Third District Court of Appeals on Friday.
Baroni was sentenced to 24 months in prison and Kelly to 18 months. They are both free on bail pending their appeals.
They were each convicted on three charges in a scheme to shut down access lanes to the George Washington Bridge that prosecutors said was punishment to the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing Christie's re-election in 2013.
Another Port Authority official, David Wildstein, who admitted to devising the traffic plot, admitted to his role and is on probation.
