Acting on citizen complaint, New Jersey judge finds probable cause to investigate Chris Christie
Image of Chris Christie by Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com.
Acting on a citizen complaint filed by a law school graduate, a New Jersey judge has found probable cause to investigate allegations that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie committed official misconduct in the Bridgegate scandal.
Municipal Presiding Judge Roy McGeady of Bergen County made the finding and issued a criminal summons on Thursday, report the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.), Politico, NBC News, the New York Times, NJ.com and the Washington Post.
Spectators in the courtroom who were mostly there for minor criminal violations applauded after McGeady ruled, according to NJ.com.
The complaint alleges that Christie was told about lane closures intended to punish a mayor who didn’t support his re-election, yet did not stop them. The case now moves to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office, which must decide whether to seek an indictment.
Christie plans to appeal, according to spokesperson Brian Murray. “This is a dishonorable complaint filed by a known serial complainant and political activist with a history of abusing the judicial system,” he said in a statement. “The simple fact is the governor had no knowledge of the lane realignments either before they happened or while they were happening. This matter has already been thoroughly investigated by three separate independent investigations.”
The citizen who filed the complaint, Bill Brennan, is a retired firefighter and a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law. He has filed several lawsuits against public officials in Bergen County, according to NJ.com.
