President Threatens To Revive 'Bridgegate' Case In Feud With Ex-NJ Gov. Christie

NEW JERSEY — Pres. Donald Trump on Sunday blasted former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie after the latter criticized the president on a Sunday morning ABC show — with Trump suggesting that the 2013 "Bridgegate" scandal during Christie's administration could be revisited.

READ MORE: Guilty Plea, Two Indictments In Christie Administration 'Bridgegate' Scandal

Christie, a former U.S. attorney who sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, has long criticized Trump's handling of the covid pandemic, the 2020 election results, and other matters.

On Sunday, he appeared on ABC's "This Week," criticizing Ghislaine Maxwell's recent exoneration of Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein sex abuse scandal, and accusing the president of using the U.S. Justice Department as his personal legal arm.

Following the appearance, Trump posted on social media about the physical appearance of both Christie and TV host Jonathan Karl, and referenced the Bridgegate scandal — in which several officials were accused of having closed a bridge from Fort Lee to New York City to get revenge on the mayor of Fort Lee.

"I just watched Sloppy Chris Christie be interviewed on a ratings challenged 'News' Show, 'This Week With George Slopadopolus,' on ABC Fake News," Trump posted. "(By the way, what the 'hell' happened to Jonathan Karl’s hair? He looks absolutely terrible!... Can anyone believe anything that Sloppy Chris says?"

He added, "Do you remember the way he lied about the dangerous and deadly closure of the George Washington Bridge in order to stay out of prison, at the same time sacrificing people who worked for him, including a young mother, who spent years trying to fight off the vicious charges against her.

"Chris refused to take responsibility for these criminal acts. For the sake of JUSTICE, perhaps we should start looking at that very serious situation again? NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW."

In September of 2013, several New Jersey officials ordered two of three lanes of the George Washington Bridge closed, ostensibly for roadwork. The lanes forced traffic tie-ups for four days.

After a newspaper columnist for the Record began looking into the closure, it came to light that two officials had traded messages suggesting that it was time to close the lanes, ostensibly to get back at the mayor of Fort Lee for refusing to endorse Christie's re-election.

A leaked email from Christie's deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, to Chief of Staff David Wildstein reportedly said, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."

Port Authority Director Bill Baroni, Wildstein, and Kelly were prosecuted. Investigators did not prove that Christie knew of his aides' actions.

Wildstein pleaded guilty and testified in court. Baroni and Kelly were convicted in 2016, but the state Supreme Court overturned their convictions in 2020.

Kelly, a mother of four and former head of the Republican Party in Ramsey, went on to run for office in Bergen County in 2021.

READ MORE: Guilty Plea, Two Indictments In Christie Administration 'Bridgegate' Scandal

READ MORE: Christie Aide Destroyed Bridgegate Evidence, May Be Charged: Lawmakers