Bridgegate Trial: Baroni & Kelly Found Guilty

By Anthony Birritteri, Editor-in-Chief On Nov 4, 2016

Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly were found guilty on all counts concerning their involvement in George Washington Bridge lane closings more than three years ago. In a trial that lasted seven weeks, the jury took five days to reach its verdict that the two – Baroni (a former deputy executive director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who was appointed by Governor Christie) and Kelly (the governor’s former deputy chief of staff) – conspired with David Wildstein (also a senior official at the Port Authority at the time) to close the lanes in retaliation for Fort Lee Democratic Mayor Mark Sokolich’s refusal to endorse Governor Christie during his last gubernatorial campaign.

The indictment, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, came before US District Judge Susan D. Wigenton ruled on a mistrial request by defense attorneys. Sentencing is scheduled for February 21, with Baroni and Kelly facing a maximum of 20 years in prison. Under federal sentencing guidelines, they may serve far less than the maximum sentence.

Wigenton informed jurors that they didn’t have to find that Kelly and Baroni knowingly intended to punish Sokolich in order to convict them of conspiracy.

Kelly’s lawyer, Michael Critchley, said his client is going to appeal the ruling. Immediately after the sentencing, Baroni, outside the Newark federal court house, said he was innocent and was “looking forward to an appeal.”

Kelly sent the infamous “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” e-mail to Wildstein in August 2013, with the lane closings occurring over a four-day period in September. During the trial both Baroni and Kelly said they believed the closings were part of a traffic study, based on what Wildstein told them. Wildstein had pleaded guilty to two federal counts of conspiracy as part of a plea agreement in the case.

Following the verdict, Governor Chris Christie issued the following statement:

“On January 9, 2014, I apologized to the people of New Jersey for the conduct exhibited by some members of my Administration who showed a lack of respect for the appropriate role of government and for the people we serve. Those people were terminated by me and today, the jury affirms that decision by also holding them responsible for their own conduct.

“Like so many people in New Jersey, I’m saddened by this case and I’m saddened about the choices made by Bill Baroni, Bridget Kelly and David Wildstein. Today’s verdict does not change this for me.

“But let me be clear once again, I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments, and had no role in authorizing them. No believable evidence was presented to contradict that fact. Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue.

“As a former federal prosecutor, I have respected these proceedings and refused to comment on the daily testimony from the trial. I will set the record straight in the coming days regarding the lies that were told by the media and in the courtroom.”

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