TRENTON, N.J. _ Democratic lawmakers who led an investigation into the George Washington Bridge lane closings are now considering impeachment proceedings against New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie over his alleged knowledge of the punishment plot.
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg on Thursday requested that Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto consider opening impeachment proceedings based on the recent federal trial of two former associates of Christie's. A jury found his former deputy chief Bridget Anne Kelly and former Port Authority executive director Bill Baroni guilty of charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and civil rights violations in a plan to punish Fort Lee's Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie's re-election.
Prieto _ who would have to act first to begin any impeachment proceedings _ said that "all potential legislative activity" is now being considered.
"In light of testimony from the trial and the governor's public statements, I am requesting the Assembly speaker consider impeachment, the outcome of which could deny Chris Christie the benefit of office and correct the public record to reflect the evidence provided in this federal court trial," Weinberg said in a statement Thursday afternoon. "The allegations of federal prosecutors and statements of witnesses who testified under oath cannot go unanswered and impeaching Chris Christie would bar him from further public service in this state."
Christie's time in New Jersey may end soon if president-elect Donald Trump offers him a job and he accepts it. But the state constitution allows for impeachment up to two years after a governor leaves office. No governor has been impeached since the current constitution was ratified in 1947.
Christie's office declined to comment.
Christie was not charged in the lane-closure case and has denied having knowledge of the traffic scheme and its political motivation. But witnesses testified and lawyers on both sides of the case agreed that Christie did know of the lane closures as they happened.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. came to the governor's defense Thursday.
"New Jersey residents are tired of seeing Senate Majority Leader Weinberg play political games. We owe it to our constituents to get back to work and do the job we were elected to do," Kean said in a statement.
An impeachment conviction would mean Christie could be removed from office and be subject to indictment, trial and punishment, according to the constitution. The Assembly would have to vote for impeachment and it would have to be tried in the Senate. A conviction would need a two-thirds majority vote. The Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court would preside over the impeachment. The Senate president would not be allowed to participate. Senate President Stephen Sweeney declined to comment Thursday.
Weinberg is a longtime foe of Christie's and led the legislative investigation into the lane closures.
Weinberg said it is important for the public _ in New Jersey and across the United States _ to know "what really happened," especially "if the governor's going off to Washington to establish the same environment and the same atmosphere he established here."
The timing of her request comes as Christie is reportedly under consideration for a job in the incoming Trump administration. She had broached the idea of impeachment proceedings before, but said she had to wait until after the bridge trial and the presidential election to ask for hearings. Prieto did not seem pleased that he didn't have much time to consider her formal request.
"As has been the case all along since the Assembly took the lead and broke open this investigation, we are weighing all potential legislative activity," Prieto said in a statement, "but considering how any impeachment would involve the Senate, it's disappointing that Senator Weinberg made her request through a press release."
Weinberg said she gave some advance notice to Prieto before issuing her release, but apologized for not giving him more time.
