Second Chris Christie Aide Gets 18 Months In Prison For Bridgegate, Testified That Christie Knew About Plot

The New York Times reports:

Bridget Anne Kelly, a former top aide to Gov. Chris Christie, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Wednesday for her role in closing access lanes to the George Washington Bridge as a form of political retribution against a mayor who refused to endorse Mr. Christie for re-election in 2013. Earlier on Wednesday, Bill Baroni, 45, a former top official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was also sentenced to two years in prison.

Ms. Kelly, 44, who was Mr. Christie’s deputy chief of staff, and Mr. Baroni, 45, had been found guilty by a federal jury last fall of conspiracy and fraud following a seven-week trial. “What occurred in September of 2013 was an outrageous abuse of power,” Judge Susan D. Wigenton said as she handed down Mr. Baroni’s sentence in United States District Court here, calling it a “sad day” for the State of New Jersey.

In October 2016, Kelly testified that Christie was told about the plan to close access lanes to the bridge for a “traffic study” over one month before the closures. Christie has repeated denied any foreknowledge of the plan.