Bridgegate defense attorneys took aim Thursday at key witness David Wildstein, focusing on contradictions in his testimony, while highlighting the political infighting at the Port Authority, which operates the George Washington Bridge.
NEWARK - David Wildstein pleaded guilty more than a year ago to orchestrating the Bridgegate scandal.
But for much of the day Thursday, it seemed as if Wildstein was on trial, as defense attorneys for two former Christie administration insiders facing federal charges sought to portray the prosecution's key witness as a political con artist and "dangerous" figure who misled jurors.
At the same time, the testimony offered an inside look at the on-going war over regional interests involving the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, that continued top play out as the scandal at the bridge came to light in the fall of 2013.
And it also revealed the growing realization among top advisors to Gov. Chris Christie that the lane shutdowns might present a political problem, at a time the Republican governor was seeking to mount a campaign for the presidency.
On trial in federal court in Newark are Bill Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, and Bridget Anne Kelly, a one-time deputy chief of staff to Christie.
They are charged with nine counts of conspiracy and fraud in connection with shutting down of several local access toll lanes at the George Washington Bridge in September 2013, in order to create huge traffic jams in Fort Lee after its mayor declined to endorse the governor for re-election.
Wildstein, a former political blogger and Republican operative who landed a $150,000-a-year patronage position with the Port Authority through his connections with Christie, has pleaded guilty and testified for eight days against Baroni and Kelly.
Baroni, who testified earlier this week, said he believed the lane closures were part of a legitimate traffic study looking at the "fairness" of dedicating toll lanes to Fort Lee.
Kelly is expected to be on the stand as early as Friday.
In court on Thursday, Scott Rechler, an outgoing Port Authority commissioner who served as deputy chairman when the lane closures occurred, testified that he saw Wildstein, as "cancer" within the agency who created a "culture of fear."
Former Port Authority vice chairman Scott Rechler, who testified Thursday about the distrust of Wildstein and the political fallout over the Fort Lee lane closures. (John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)"My view was that David Wildstein was a dangerous character within the Port Authority," he said.
But Rechler said that Wildstein could not be fired because he was protected politically by then-Port Authority Chairman David Samson, a key ally of Christie.
Rechler also testified that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Christie spoke in October of 2013, with the New Jersey governor complaining about Executive Director Patrick Foye's meddling in the wake of growing fallout over the Fort Lee lane closures. He said Samson had complained that Foye was "interfering" and "getting involved in politics."
Both Cuomo and Christie have denied discussing the lane closures.
Christie political strategist Mike DuHaime, meanwhile, directly contradicted Wildstein's claims that he was told the lane closures were meant to send a message of retribution.
Christie political strategist Mike DuHaime, who contradicted Wildstein's testimony. (John O'Boyle | Star-Ledger file photo) DuHaime said the two met on Veteran's Day in Westfield, but said Wildstein--a long-time friend--only complained that the governor's office had offered no pushback as he found himself the focus on increasing attention.
"He said it was his idea and there was good public policy behind it," said DuHaime. "Perhaps poorly executed, but a good idea."
DuHaime also denied that Wildstein told him the governor had been told of the plan while attending a 9/11 memorial service as the traffic in Fort Lee was ongoing.
Much of the day, though, was focused on Rechler, who was called as a defense witness by Michael Critchley, who represents Kelly. The Port Authority commissioner said he saw Wildstein as part of a the New Jersey "center of power" that included Samson and Baroni, whose job he once described as being one of an official "ribbon cutter."
Long before the scandal, Rechler said Wildstein seemed to be simply a political operative who intimidated staff, boasted of his connections with "Trenton," and "acted inappropriately" with professional staff.
"I thought he was a cancer to the organization," he said.
When the lane closures occurred, Rechler--a New York appointee--said there was immediate political tension between the New York and New Jersey sides.
He testified that he asked Samson to "not escalate" the tension after the chairman complained about an email from Foye regarding the lane shutdowns that found its way into the Wall Street Journal.
"Very unfortunate for New Jersey/New York relations," Samson said in a Sept. 18, 2013 email to Rechler, blaming the leak on Foye. "He's playing in traffic..."
Rechler denied the leaks at the time. However, testimony from Foye's chief of staff, John Ma, earlier in the trial revealed Foye's office did in fact leak news of the lane closures to reporters the night before Foye ordered the lanes reopened.
Samson was never charged in the lane closure scheme.
However, he pleaded guilty to federal crimes for pressuring United Airlines to adding direct flights from Newark to a South Carolina airport in the vicinity of his vacation home in Aiken.
Rechler also testified Christie and Cuomo talked about about a month after the Fort Lee lane closures, and that Christie expressed anger over Foye.
"Gov. Cuomo told me that in one of his conversations he was having with Gov. Christie, Gov. Christie mentioned to him that David Samson was, once again, complaining about Pat Foye interfering, getting involved with politics," Rechler said.
Wildstein previously testified that Christie and Cuomo discussed a plan to shut down the controversy surrounding the lane closures about a month after they occurred.
A spokesman for Cuomo said in response to the testimony that Rechler "further disproves Mr. Wildstein's false hearsay testimony from earlier this month. There were long-time tensions between New York and New Jersey staff at the Port Authority before, during and after Bridgegate that were discussed at all levels."
The spokesman, John Kelly, said there were no conversations between the governors concerning a plan to have Foye stand down or to have the issue "whitewashed" through a report.
"Pat Foye was in fact a whistle-blower," said Kelly. "He never stood down and no report was ever prepared or issued."
Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter.
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