BRIDGEGATE TRIAL–Defendant Baroni’s version shredded on cross-examination |

BRIDGEGATE TRIAL–Defendant Baroni’s version shredded on cross-examination |:

BRIDGEGATE TRIAL–Defendant Baroni’s version shredded on cross-examination

 Bridgegate trial defendant Bill Baroni’s efforts to portray himself as an honest, compassionate and politically independent–if, at times, conflicted– public servant vanished in a mist of embarrassment Tuesday as a federal prosecutor shredded Baroni’s self-serving version of the decision to create massive traffic jams at the George Washington Bridge  in September, 2013. And gone, too, is any doubt over whether Gov. Chris Christie was involved in whatever his lemmings were doing at the bistate agency.

In controlled but sharply-aimed cross examination, Assistant US Attorney Lee Cortes depicted Baroni as an “attack dog” who delivered Christie’s angry and often profane threats to potential adversaries–especially during the governor’s re-election campaign.

“This was a political time and a political campaign,” Baroni said in discussing how Christie’s Port Authority’s appointees were expected to act toward those from whom the governor expected support and endorsements, including Jersey City Steven Fulop and Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich.

Baroni, Christie and Wildstein on 9/11/13–what were they laughing about?

“The governor was very, very involved personally.”

The federal prosecutors, however, have never been eager to delve into Christie’s role in what has become known as Bridgegate. US Attorney Paul Fishman was satisfied with indicting only Baroni, then a PA deputy executive director, and Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff. David Wildstein a boyhood pal of Christie, already has pleaded guilty for his role in what looks more and more like a silly but potentially dangerous high school prank than political intrigue. Wildstein, who got to the prosecutors first, has testified against Baroni and Kelly.

Wildstein’s version is this: He came up with the idea of jamming up traffic at the GWB to punish Sokolich for refusing to endorse Christie’s re-election bid. Kelly authorized it with her infamous email–“Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee”–and Wildstein and Baroni executed it under the cover of a non-existent traffic study. Christie knew about it while it was going on and approved. Patrick Foye, the PA’s BRIDGEGATE TRIAL–Defendant Baroni’s version shredded on cross-examination |: