TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — At least a dozen new subpoenas were authorized Monday by a New Jersey legislative committee investigating a plot by aides to Gov. Chris Christie to create traffic gridlock on the George Washington Bridge, apparently for political retribution.
The panel also agreed to take additional steps to enforce subpoenas to two key figures in the bridge scandal that is engulfing the administration of the Republican governor and possible 2016 presidential candidate.
Former Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien and fired deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly have asserted their right against self-incrimination and refused to comply with the subpoenas. The panel on Monday voted to reject those objections and continue to seek most of the documents. Four Republicans on the panel abstained, saying they were not given ample time to review the complex Fifth Amendment arguments.
Committee chairman John Wisniewski would not name the new subpoena recipients until they are served, possibly by Tuesday.
However, The Star-Ledger reported that the recipients include Christie's office, his reelection campaign, several Port Authority officials and the State Police aviation unit, which oversees the governor's travel by helicopter.
The committee's actions follow last week's deadline for 20 people and organizations close to Christie to return subpoenaed documents. All but a few have sought more time. Lawyers for Stepien and Kelly asked that the subpoenas be withdrawn.
"Ultimately, (that is) what the inquiry of the committee is — who knew what when, and who authorized this, and why," Wisniewski said Monday.