As I am sure all of you know by now the investigative report, commissioned by Chris Christie to absolve him of any blame for the George Washington bridge scandal, came out on Thursday.
This is how the Daily Beast reported on that "totally unforeseen" exoneration:
When the results of the internal Bridgegate investigation, commissioned by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie were released Thursday, it included a curious revelation. Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s former Deputy Chief of Staff whom he fired on January 9 after the release of her smoking gun “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” email, had been involved in an affair with Bill Stepien, Christie’s former campaign manager.
The report, which cost New Jersey taxpayers $1 million, states that “Kelly and Stepien became personally involved, although, by early August 2013, their personal relationship had cooled, apparently at Stepien’s choice, and they largely stopped speaking.”
State Senator Loretta Weinberg, one of two co-chairs of the joint legislative committee investigating Bridgegate, told The Daily Beast that she believes this was an attempt to assassinate the character of Kelly.
“Maybe that’s what’s making me so angry,” Weinberg said in a phone call Thursday. “They’re talking about ‘a personal relationship’ and they put in the report that Mr. Stepien was the one who ended it—how do they know that? How do they know that? And was that done to add to the credence that this was some crazy woman, some woman who is no longer in control of her emotions?”
Now Chris Christie had originally thrown Bridget Kelly under the bus during his January press conference on the bridge scandal.
At the time I remember thinking, "Man he must have her locked down, to treat her like that and not expect her to go public with what she knows." And at the time she didn't.
However former Christie Port Authority appointee, David Wildstein felt no such loyalty and publicly claimed that the Governor knew about the bridge closings, and that his administration had orchestrated them.
Further more Wildstein said he is willing to tell all to the investigators if they will grant him immunity.
Bridget Kelly on the other hand has remained quiet and has refused to cooperate.
And then this report was released.
This was the statement released yesterday by Bridget Kelly's lawyer:
Having reviewed the report of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, as well as listened to the comments of Randy Mastro, Esq., we note that by Mr. Mastro’s own admission, he did not have access to all information. Of course, without reviewing all pertinent evidence, any conclusions that are to be drawn are by definition incomplete. The report’s venomous, gratuitous, and inappropriate sexist remarks concerning Ms. Kelly have no place in what is alleged to be a professional and independent report.
There appear to be two distinct versions of the George Washington Bridge lane closings. On the one hand, Mr. Wildstein, through his counsel, has taken one clear position. On the other hand, Mr. Mastro has staked a different view. Thus, Ms. Kelly’s evidence could be critical to verifying either of the two competing versions of events. A preemptive strike to isolate Ms. Kelly and impugn her credibility is not surprising. Despite Mr. Mastro’s editorialized comments to the contrary, Ms. Kelly is not a liar. She is a single mother of four children who was deeply devoted and committed to her job at the Office of the Governor. She worked tirelessly to pursue the goals of the Office during her tenure.
The only credible investigation into the lane closings is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If Ms. Kelly were provided with the appropriate procedural safeguards, she will be fully cooperative and provide truthful and complete answers to any questions asked of her by the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
Okay now here is where I am a little confused.
If Christie had thrown Kelly to the curb initially, and she had remained loyal and refused to help the investigators go after Christie, what in the world would make him slander her a second time, this time about her personal life?
I mean does he REALLY think she has nothing to offer the the U.S. Attorney's office that would help them prove that Christie knew about the bridge closings? Or is he such an arrogant prick that he thinks he can simply treat her like some one night stand doing the walk of shame at three o'clock in the morning and she will continue to cover for his fat ass?
Because I think that now he is well and truly FUBAR'D.
And it could not happen to a more deserving pile of shit.
I really hope that she took copies of her emails, because otherwise, I am pretty sure that Christie will try/has deleted them...
ReplyDeleteOne million dollars that could have gone to help Sandy victims.
DeleteEvil man.
I would have.
DeleteI'm in a grievance right now with my school district.
I've forwarded the e-mail proof I need to my home account and I have printed hard copies.
My Pappy didn't raise no stupid chillin'.
Hopefully hers didn't either.
...Kelly’s team’s statement correctly calls out Christie for being what he is: A misogynist. Christie and his team of lawyers did everything they could to discredit Kelly, including taking cheap shots at her personal life which are in no way are related to the Bridgegate inquiry. They tried to make her out to be a promiscuous employee who was more interested in getting around than doing her job. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow took umbrage with the report by aggressively calling out Christie for his disgraceful actions. Maddow said, “What they’ve printed throughout the report is gossip about what they heard about their relationship and how it was going. They just gratuitously bring that up as they blame the whole thing on her. In real life, this is called slut-shaming.”
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politicususa.com/2014/03/29/mayor-misogyny-chris-christie-shames-aide-save-hide.html
...Like rats fleeing a sinking ship, Chris Christie knows he is losing his closest allies as the Bridgegate probe goes deeper and deeper. Desperate times call for desperate measures and Christie is as desperate as they come. With everything that has gone on during the past three months, America has seen Chris Christie’s true colors. The man is petty, vindictive, and shameless. He will do anything and everything to stay in power including slut-shaming and forcing people close to him to resign. As the investigations continue to uncover additional information, expect to see more and more of Chris Christie’s “friends” turn on him in an effort to save their own hides.
ReplyDeleteChris Christie is about to learn the hard way that what goes around comes around.
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/03/29/mayor-misogyny-chris-christie-shames-aide-save-hide.html
This will be difficult for Kelly as providing evidence out of compliance (or vengeance for Christie's arrogance) may well prove her guilty of that which she has denied through silence to this point. More concretely, she has been vilified by the press, and now victimized by her former employer. Her position is indeed an untenable one. Hopefully, she does the right thing for the greater good of politics this time around, no matter her motives.
ReplyDeleteAre you saying that you think Bridget Kelly authorized the lane closures without anyone higher up telling her to do it? If so, I think you're wrong. Ms. Kelly was victimized by Christie from the beginning, it was apparent that Bridget Kelly and David Wildstein were the designated scapegoats. Kelly remaining quiet doesn't mean that she's "denying anything through her silence". It simply means that she's waiting for assurances that she'll avoid prosecution in exchange for her testimony. Screw the "greater good of politics", there doesn't seem to be any good in Christie-land politics. Bridget Kelly is a single mother of four whose reputation has been ruined by a misogynistic powerful group of men. She must know a lot of bad things about Mr. Christie or he wouldn't be trying this preemptive attack against her.
Deletedoesn't matter...any computer savvy tech can retrieve deleted info off the hard drive. He'd had to hide the computer.
ReplyDeleteAs this unfolds Christie appears more thuggish than smart.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of self-satisfied, smirking douche-bags, pulling a Palin with the self-invoked study at the cost of the State to exonerate him. I can't wait for the federal investigation, there has to be smoking guns. This is a report to satisfy Christie fan-base, not an end to this whole mess.
ReplyDeleteIf Palin goes after normal looking people with "mom jeans," "bitch/cancer," "canjones," "limp," and "long faces" (no, not talking about Bristol) can you imagine how she talks about Christie?
Christy probably gave her a generous severance package to be quiet. But then he brought her personal life in to it and declared war. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Christy is going down. I hope he goes down slowly and painfully. He's a bully and a liar.
ReplyDeleteEspecially a Republican woman! Hell hath no fury like a wronged Republican woman!
DeletePersonal life is the shot across the bow, shut up or I'll spill more beans. Even if Tony Soprano was fictional, he came from New Jersey, and his style lives on.
DeleteYes, "arrogant prick" works for me." Attempted pre-emptive character assassination, because he knows she will talk eventually, and he aims to compromise her as much as possible in advance.
ReplyDeleteI hope when this is over Bridget will get a $7M book deal out of it, from whomsoever is the Rupert-counterpart on the other side.
Bridget is now realizing when you do dirty work for an unscrupulous asshole, he's not going to protect you when the shit hits the fan. I'm looking forward to the carnage when they all start turning on each other.
DeleteAgreed. They BOTH need to be flushed.
Delete"If Christie had thrown Kelly to the curb initially, and she had remained loyal and refused to help the investigators go after Christie, what in the world would make him slander her a second time, this time about her personal life?"
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------------
He is a sexist, misogynistic pig. He may well believe his own pile of crap. The little woman was loyal and kept her mouth shut because that is what she is supposed to do.
And she probably really was, you know, all hormonal and what not and probably really bitchy also too, because that is what a woman is like when a man does what a man's gotta do like move on to another easy lay.
So he can put whatever he wants in his report because a) why would she object? she is there to serve his purposes, and b) why would anyone question his version? It's a perfectly plausible story because it is totally accurate as to describing how those bitches act and why they do the things they do, right? Perfect!
Oh yeah. Christie's vanity investigation basically calls Bridget Kelly an emotional wreck and Dawn Zimmer is basically said to be delusional because how could she smile after talking to the Lt. Gov. about moving the real estate deal along.
ReplyDeleteChristie had to get this piece of crap fake investigation out before he went to belly flop and lick Sheldon Adelson's crypt keeper visage and beg money. What a misogynistic bastard Christie is. He needs to go down hard.
Sure seems like the Man-o-Festo is trying to turn Christie's Bridgegate into Bridgetgate. Hormones and all....must have been off her cramp pills
ReplyDeleteIf a pig was as fat as Christie, it would only be suitable for lard. He's alot like Palin as he thinks he can ham it up and we will be happy with the shit sandwich we have been handed.
Chris exonerating himself sounds exactly like Sarah exonerating herself in Troopergate. No body believed her and nobody believes him.
ReplyDeleteBut Palin got away with it, Palin got the $7M book advance. Wgy not Christie? Why not Bridget?
DeleteBecause Sarah is the. ..
DeleteTEFLON TWAT! (COPYRIGHT)
Let see, the lawyers didn't interview the main people involved in the case. No one was under oath. I don't have a problem with that. That was the only way that they could make Cristie look innocent.
ReplyDeleteShe is too stupid and deluded to realize that Bridgegate is just like TrooperGate. Except national stage, more competent players, real investigation by the media.
DeleteThis Christie self investigation resembles the Palin TrooperGate stall and coverup. Just as lame and nearly as incompetent. With TrooperGate the candidate Sarah supposedly called Sambo won and then the Alaska Leg jammed TrooperGate and the lame ass coverup back where it came from.
The paybacks continued back and forth, the final one was the iceberg that caused her to suddenly resign. The paybacks from TrooperGate was what really caused her to quit.
Christie and NJ grift has NOTHING on Alaskan Oily grift. Captain Zero can give 10 times the favors (in billions of dollars) to his oily friends. Actually, the lower 48 is already on the hook for at least $40 Billion in Government financing to build an Alaskan gas pipeline. Just need to get the dill done to collect from you and me. Funny how that all worked out.
Christie will end up quitting just like Sarah.
This will only make Kelly accept an immunity deal with the federal investigation. Good move, Christie people.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I see a pic of this um, um, creature? I see Big Pussy's face. It probably won't be long until the Jersey mob takes care of their Big Pussy problem. Enjoy sleeping with the fishes you fucking fungus. Take me to the river......
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about Kelly's future. With the name of "Bridget Ann Kelly", her blonde hair, and her political beliefs, she'll get a job on Fox News in a jiffy. There's always room at Fox for another blonde, Irish, conservative Republican woman!
ReplyDeleteHow much does Fox pay? :)
DeleteSeriously, I am watching this from afar and I am fecking gobsmacked. Not only is he a misogynist, he shows no loyalty at all to his employees. This has been a bad week for that sack o' sh*t. Bye bye lardass.
I don't trust Chris Christie as far as I could throw him and that wouldn't be far! He is a pompous ass and feels superior to everyone else. Does he really think the majority of Americans would support his running for the POTUS?
ReplyDeleteIn a word: Yes.
DeleteMy dear Sarah, this one is gonna sting a little. Owwwww, the comments are brutal. The Hill is pretty widely read in political player circles.
ReplyDeletehttp://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/202086-is-palins-bark-bigger-than-her-bite
Luckily for Sarah she doesn't read anything. Especially lamestream (anything other than c4p) media.
DeleteOkay, if you believe that Bridget was angry because of being dumped, why did she take her anger out on the commuters in Ft Lee?
ReplyDeleteI've seen enough Judge Judy episodes to know that women will scratch the paint on the guy's car, or pour bleach on top of his clothes. But I've never seen a dumped woman deciding to create a traffic jam.
So why would Wildstein agree with Bridget Kelly and take orders from her?
Yeah, he's toast.
ReplyDeleteBut that won't mean he still won't be a nominee for the GOP ticket and people still won't vote for him.
There are Republicans who will vote for an exposed corrupt liar like Christie than vote for a Democrat.
She is not innocent. But lardass has shown his true colours.
ReplyDeleteThe man is a true pig, in every way.
ReplyDeletechristie was a prosecutor. he honed his skills putting political enemies of his enemies in jail using emails. he KNOWS not to leave a trail like that. he insisted on using text and phone calls to do business and talk to his minions. i would say he probably has his tracks very well covered. i think bridget has no physical proof and neither does wildstein. it will all come down to he said, he said, she said. in that case he has been laying the groundwork to discredit both kelly and wildstein. he is the nerdy loser from college he barely ever talked to and she is the emotional basket case looking for approval from men. thats my theory number one as to why christie went this route with that report. my theory number 2 is pure hubris. neither are mutually exclusive.
ReplyDeleteChristie is a narcistist who believes he is too smart to get caught. People who are over confident in themselves will always make mistakes. He will also hurt somebody's feelings who will take him down.
DeleteThere's an old adage that Ms Kelly knows too well. Keep your cards close to your chest, know the enemy (Bully who loves to throw his weight around). She's waiting for the best deal for herself before lowering the boom, and it's gonna be huge.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't a game, people's reputation and lives were negatively impacted. His hubris is his Achille's heel. Can't wait for the US Attorney's Office investigation, will he slut shame someone there as well?