Closing arguments postponed in Bridgegate trial
NEWARK, N.J. _ A federal judge postponed closing arguments in the George Washington Bridge lane-closure case, dismissing jurors Thursday morning over an undisclosed legal issue.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys declined to discuss the matter, but the trial is expected to resume Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Bridget Anne Kelly, a former deputy chief of staff to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Bill Baroni, Christie's former top executive appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, are charged with conspiring to misuse the agency's resources.
Prosecutors allege that Kelly and Baroni conspired with former Port Authority official David Wildstein and others to cause massive traffic jams at the bridge in September 2013 in order to punish a local mayor for his refusal to endorse Christie's re-election campaign.
Wildstein, a cooperating witness, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy charges.
Kelly's defense rested Wednesday after she took the stand for the fourth day.
Kelly and Baroni have testified that Wildstein informed them that the Port Authority would be conducting a traffic study at the bridge.
Wildstein says the traffic study was actually a cover story used to facilitate and conceal the punishment of Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich.
_The Philadelphia Inquirer
