N.J. committee delays testimony by port authority executive director
The U.S. Attorney's Office has asked the New Jersey legislative committee investigating September lane closures at the George Washington Bridge to postpone its plans to take testimony from the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a committee spokesman confirmed Thursday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office has asked the New Jersey legislative committee investigating September lane closures at the George Washington Bridge to postpone its plans to take testimony from the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a committee spokesman confirmed Thursday.
Patrick Foye was scheduled to testify before the committee on Tuesday, along with Port Authority Commissioner William "Pat" Schuber.
Federal prosecutors are investigating the lane closures, which tied up traffic for four days in September and were allegedly orchestrated by former allies of Gov. Christie.
A federal grand jury is also taking testimony on the matter. The Wall Street Journal first reported the U.S. Attorney's request, with which the committee will comply.
Foye, an appointee of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, ordered the lanes to be reopened when he learned they had been closed, according to e-mails subpoenaed by legislators and previous testimony.
Foye told the Assembly Transportation Committee in December that David Wildstein, a Christie appointee at the Port Authority, was behind the lane closures. He also disputed the explanation by Bill Baroni, another Port Authority official, that the lane closures were part of a legitimate traffic study.
Wildstein and Baroni have both since resigned.
A panel created in January for the specific task of investigating the lane closures has held three hearings thus far.
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