New Jersey Subpoenas- Looks Like the Sopranos Are Back in Real Life

Congratulations to Rachel Maddow for bringing to national attention the corruption in New Jersey and the arrogant closing of lanes to Fort Lee on the busy George Washington Bridge. 

Now, the New Jersey legislature is carrying this torch forward. Although the scandal whereby Governor Christie's staff ordered lane closings as retribution for some unknown political slight, the legislature is now broadening the investigation to evaluate misuse of federal monies to aid in Hurricane Sandy relief. In other words, was this federal money used to grant favors to Governor Christie's endorsers? 

Well, it appears the stage is now a full blown Sopranos saga.

Washington (CNN) -- Just days after dismissing two top advisers for their roles in the George Washington Bridge scandal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie faced questions over the use of Superstorm Sandy relief funds.

CNN has learned that federal officials are investigating whether Christie improperly used some of that money to produce tourism ads that starred him and his family.

The news couldn't come at a worse time for the embattled Republican, who is facing two probes in New Jersey of whether his staff orchestrated traffic gridlock near the country's busiest bridge to punish a Democratic mayor who refused to endorse his re-election.

N.J. Democratic legislator: 'I do believe laws have been broken'

Personally, I can't see Governor Christie coming out ahead of this corruption.  This lane closing incident can't be isolated, it's impossible for his highest level staff people to use this kind of unmitigated authority without precedent.

Governor Christie should immediately resign and save tax payers the money he has cost the state to learn how badly he has managed the state for the past four years.

Springsteen's Badlands could become Christie's exit music.

"Lights out tonight,

Trouble in the heartland,

Got a head-on collision

Smashin' in my guts man

I'm caught in a crossfire,

That I don't understand....

Badlands....you gotta live it everyday....

As the price you gotta pay...

Governor Chris Christie is Responsible for George Washington Bridge Lane Closing

Driving across the world's busiest bridge, the George Washington Bridge, connecting New York City with New Jersey, isn't for the faint hearted. Even the most seasoned drivers shudder at the thought of being caught on the GWBridge in a traffic jam.  

When the traffic jam turns out to be a deliberate act of political retribution by the New Jersey's governor's office, the shudders become cold chills, putting drivers at risk for voter shock. Somebody must politically pay for this story of power run amok and it's going to be New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Christie says he knew nothing about this fiasco. He mocked reporters who asked questions about the incident. Now, it turns out, Christie's staff was involved and directed the bridge lane closure.

New Jersey Chris Christie has a reputation of being a political bully.
This George Washington Bridge retribution story, where his office is clearly involved, is an ugly example of using his power for nefarious purposes.

‘It’s the worst example of a petty political vendetta’: Fort Lee, NJ, Mayor Sokolich on retaliatory George Washington Bridge closings
Emails exchanged between a Governor Chris Christie staffer and appointee shows bridge lanes were shut as punishment for Sokolich not supporting the governor's reelection. ‘How low can you go … congratulations, you’ve just made New Jersey the brunt of every political joke for the next 25 years,’ the Fort Lee mayor added.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/emails-link-chris-christie-aides-bridge-lane-closures-article-1.1569740#ixzz2prh7lWxB

Bombshell Documents Show One Of Chris Christie's Top Aides Ordered George Washington Bridge Lane Closures

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-christie-bridge-scandal-top-aide-email-2014-1#ixzz2prmJ1czN

Bombshell documents show that decisions that caused days of traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge — possibly in retaliation against a Democratic mayor who wouldn't endorse Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) for reelection — reached closer to Christie than he has previously acknowledged.

Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's deputy chief of staff, sent an August 13 email to former Port Authority Director of Interstate Capital Projects David Wildstein, a Christie ally: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich (D) had declined to endorse Christie for re-election, unlike many other Democratic municipal officials in the state.

The Wall Street Journal obtained that email and 21 other pages of emails and text messages, a series that shows coordination between the Christie administration and the Port Authority over the lane closures — and suggests the closures were politically motivated, not part of a "traffic study."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-christie-bridge-scandal-top-aide-email-2014-1#ixzz2prmf4i6T

Clearly Governor Christie has a ton of explaining to do. What did Christie know and when did he know it? Given the fact that Governor Christie's staff initiated this terrible incident, it appears to me, he should resign as Governor of New Jersey.

Governor Christie's staff brought on this traffic retaliation so, therefore, the "boss" had to know what was going on. Governor Christie is responsible for this fiasco.