N.J. bridge scandal figure signs on with law firm
(CNN) - A key figure in the political scandal roiling Chris Christie’s administration is no longer out of work.
Bill Baroni took a position with the law firm Hill Wallack LLP in Princeton this week, the firm said in a statement.
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Baroni was No. 2 at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey when it was suggested that Christie appointees orchestrated traffic jams by closing access lanes near the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee last September to punish that town’s mayor politically for not endorsing the governor’s reelection.
Baroni has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but he resigned from his Port Authority post not long after publicly saying in November that the gridlock resulted from a traffic study, an explanation that has since been called into question.
Emails and text messages between several of Christie’s appointees released in January suggested the lane closures were orchestrated by David Wildstein another Port Authority official appointed by Christie who worked directly under Baroni.
A state legislative committee and the U.S. Attorney’s office in New Jersey are investigating the scandal that has called into question Christie’s forceful governing style and clouded prospects for a possible 2016 presidential run.
Christie has said he only found out about the traffic jams after they occurred and had no knowledge of any political mischief involving his appointees.
Baroni did not return calls from CNN about his new job.
Hill Wallack is a major law firm in New Jersey specializing in governmental affairs, real estate and commercial business.
Lawyers from the firm have been heavily involved in land use issues across the state. They also do business with casinos in Atlantic City.
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What more graft?
I wish I was a fly on the wall in the interview process.
Interviewer: So do you think you'll be indicted?
Baroni: If so, I'll just say the Governor told me to do it.
Interviewer: Ok. You're hired!
"Baroni has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but he resigned from his Port Authority post not long after publicly saying in November that the gridlock resulted from a traffic study, an explanation that has since been called into question."
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So, it was Baroni who had first used "traffic study" excuse? Okay. In December, we saw Christie in the NJ state house mocking the traffic cones. Was that before or after Baroni had resigned? The timelines are critical.
During his two hour speech in January, Christie denied knowing anything about his staff being behind the traffic jams.
What's their connection to Christie, I wonder? The spider web seems to be very large, and its a little suspicious that a law firm would take on someone as an employee with potential legal problems of his own so soon after he left.
Democratic witch hunt blah, blah, blah. Benghazi and IRS, blah, blah, blah. They consider this deliberate act a witch hunt, while they have been looking for elephants in strawberry patches for more than 5 years now, hoping to impeach the POTUS.
I have to beg God every single day to not allow me to turn into them. How easy it would be.......
Who cares about Christie and Bridgegate. Obama's going toe-to-toe with Putin over Crimea and you people are worried about this bridge B S? What the heck are you thinking?????
TRTP, now your asking the interesting questions.
Wake up, you and me both, thats why its important to get away from this once in a while, could be worse(donna). Try to enjoy your weekend.
Everyone knows Christie knew exactly what was happening with the lane closures. Christies staff and appointees did not go to the bathroom without asking Christie first. And Everyone knows it!
When the DA starts starts charging these people with criminal charges you will see a lot of people talking trying to stay out of jail.
Thanks Salty. You do the same. And with the Spring thaw on the horizon finally, ( It's 43 here in Michigan today!) I have absolutely no reason at all to come here this weekend.
Baroni lied about a nonexistant traffic study and Wallack Law firm was desperate enough to hire him?
Dims want Chris C. out or in jail because they no abama should be in jail or might be going there ?I fill the same to about 0bama to .