This rewarding of criminals has got to stop or least be strictly limited on every individual basis, especially when the top person in the conspiracy walks away free.
1
In 1970 I was arrested in NYC during a feminist demonstration. While bantering with the cop in the station house, I asked, "Why are you going after the women's movement instead of the Mafia?" He gave me a disgusted look and replied, "The government is the Mafia and the Mafia is the government. And the trouble with you, sister, is that you are on the wrong side!"
That was during the Nixon administration, and the cop's words are even more true today than it was then.
That was during the Nixon administration, and the cop's words are even more true today than it was then.
7
bridgegate went on for 3 very long days. unless christie was in a coma, he knew what was going on or was derelict in not finding out. christie is a weasel, perfect for announcing wrestling matches.
4
Lock him up!
4
Unbelievable. All this does is show how one part of the government allows another part to operate. The amount of people that this person inconvenienced by his scheme, and he essentially walks. He should of received a prison sentence equal to the sum of every person hour of every individual stuck in his traffic creation. Emergency workers count 3 times. This is just another fine example of why government has such low approval ratings. Commit a crime and get away with it. I only hope this man is now toxic an unhireable.
2
Christie is the real criminal in all of this and there is zero chance that he will face any repercussions for his disgusting and childish actions. If you need any further proof that the rich and powerful in this country are above the law, look no further than this travesty.
4
1) Devise evil plot
2) Line up patsies
3) Execute plot
4) Rat out patsies
5) Live your life
6) Book deal !!
2) Line up patsies
3) Execute plot
4) Rat out patsies
5) Live your life
6) Book deal !!
11
Isn't calling him a "mastermind" a bit too complimentary? Perhaps "unethical cretin" is a bit more apt?
23
Bridgegate required a mastermind? Highly doubtful. Merely sponsored and supported by a common thug.
11
It isn’t justice when the guy who dreamed up the whole crime walks off with no prison time. But it is the way the so-called justice system works that the 1st person to stick it to his co-criminals gets to walk away unscathed. Prosecutors don’t go for justice; they go for the easy win.
15
Wildstein gets no jail time and Christie gets to go to the beach. So much for justice.
22
How did he get probation when Bridget Kelly was sentenced to 18 months? Is this Christie's version of revenge on Mr. Wildstein? Making the guy look over his shoulder for the rest of his life.
4
Rule when dealing with feds: Flip before the other guy does.
5
This is exactly what's wrong with this country. Our Democracy depends on the rule of law. The more people like Wildstein that are let off the hook, the more our society suffers. No one of consequence is prosecuted and sent to jail anymore, .i.e the bankers and wall streeters who caused the biggest financial meltdown since 1929 got away with it. What message did that send to Wells Fargo? They had no problem ripping off their customers knowing they wouldn't go to jail. Throw some of these stooges in jail and you'll see how better off the country will be. This country is owned and run by criminals.
20
That no Prison time was handed out surely diminished the fact that our so called Governor has escaped once again without having to explain his lack of interest in this State's Welfare. He canceled the Gateway project when it was funded by the Feds, giving the $ to fix a highway, cut the operating budget of NJ Transit by 90%, then allowed the GWB travesty to occur on the first few days of school! Now spends his mornings doing talk radio!?!
9
Mr. Christie's issuing a statement slamming Mr. Wildstein means nothing to anybody with any moral fiber. The governor sets the tone. Whatever happens on his watch is his responsibility. And it's simply inconceivable that he didn't have a least some idea what was going on. I can just see him ginning up some absurd plausible deniability defense: "don't tell me anything you're doing that I would really like you to be doing because then I can just deny everything." And here we are, with Christie denying everything. What kind of corrupt nation have we become when we have governors like this?
There may be hundreds of exemplary individuals who served honorably in New Jersey State Government, Mr. Christie, but they did so because of their own innate honesty, not because of you. I suggest that many may be rather glad that you're about to be out the door.
There may be hundreds of exemplary individuals who served honorably in New Jersey State Government, Mr. Christie, but they did so because of their own innate honesty, not because of you. I suggest that many may be rather glad that you're about to be out the door.
2
Does he have to spend the whole five years in backed-up traffic on his way to get an abscessed tooth treated?
3
Wildstein played the game, lost, and won all in the course of 4 years. I understand there was a deal here, but what did the tax payers get for it? Christie leaves office unscathed... never admitting any wrong doing, ever, on any topic, seemingly grinning as his underlings were left to be embarrassed and humiliated. But, whatever. He also decided not to lead by example on the stupid budget/beach issue which he totally failed to spin. He was going to have his last July 4 in that beach house no matter what, dang it all!
They say these are the things Christie accomplished.
A) He was a clear voice in the media during Hurricane Sandy. People really felt like someone was in charge.
B) He worked within a balanced budget - a worthy effort. Even if it does mean we live without some services and needed projects stall or don't happen.
C) Some hot air about tenure reforms.
D) Worked on pension reform which would not have been such a pressing issue had the pension fund not been raided over and over while little was made in contributions. Not his fault though, total predecessor issue.
E) Somehow or another this RINO (that's what "true" conservatives have always called him) managed to show compassion for drug addiction. Shocking I know but true. But, he wasn't so kind on gay marriage - which he vetoed.
I think what we'll remember most about Christie is he talked a big game and berated people that questioned him with rudeness and hostility.
They say these are the things Christie accomplished.
A) He was a clear voice in the media during Hurricane Sandy. People really felt like someone was in charge.
B) He worked within a balanced budget - a worthy effort. Even if it does mean we live without some services and needed projects stall or don't happen.
C) Some hot air about tenure reforms.
D) Worked on pension reform which would not have been such a pressing issue had the pension fund not been raided over and over while little was made in contributions. Not his fault though, total predecessor issue.
E) Somehow or another this RINO (that's what "true" conservatives have always called him) managed to show compassion for drug addiction. Shocking I know but true. But, he wasn't so kind on gay marriage - which he vetoed.
I think what we'll remember most about Christie is he talked a big game and berated people that questioned him with rudeness and hostility.
7
Coming from NJ, I know the frustration in being stuck in an hours long traffic jam, it's an experience that sticks with you for quite some time. The bad players in the Christie admin knew what they were doing in setting up this scheme, and, letting it go on for FOUR straight days is mind numbing. I know this scandal will be forever associated with them to their last days, but, their actions show that shame is not an emotion they're capable of experiencing. Wildstein, Baroni and Kelly should each do some time for this ugly act, minimally a day in jail for each hour of lane enclosures over those four days.
2
His community service should be 500 days working in a tollbooth at the GWB with a flashing sign outside his booth that says "Meet The Mastermind!"
7
I'll never understand why they couldn't implicate Christie. I lived in NJ during all of this and I cannot help but feel sorry for the young woman with four kids who is taking a disproportionate share of the wrap for this. Why? Couldn't she have turned on all of them? It seems like the lowest level always gets the heaviest sentence. IT was a terrible deed and violation of public trust and position. Christie and Wildstein should be accountable.
3
A fair sentence for his crime would have required calculation of the number of people who lost time stalled in traffic by the amount of time they lost from their lives by his planned retribution for a NJ town's mayor failure to endorse Christie.
Mr. Wildstein should have been sentenced to serve an equal amount of time to those of his victims.
Of course, if he were an African-American this "deal" would never have happened.
Mr. Wildstein should have been sentenced to serve an equal amount of time to those of his victims.
Of course, if he were an African-American this "deal" would never have happened.
9
Is becoming more public the corruption that reigns in US institutions. We used to be proud of our justice system, our human rights record, we used to. We also used to tell other countries how corrupt they were. We used to spit to the air, now we have fallen victims of our very own institutionalized corruption. Thank you Mr Trump and Mr Kristie.
6
What a world. Wildstein is paid off for doing the right thing. Except he lied when it came to Christie and his involvement. Some right thing. Hmmm...
3
The term "mastermind" is used far too loosely these days to describe people who are either just manipulative, psychotic or flunkies low down on the food chain. Whether its the "mastermind" who sends psychologically vulnerable people to blow themselves up or the "mastermind" who decides to close access to a bridge, the term does them far too much justice.
8
Does anyone remember Christie denying knowing Wildstein even though they went to Livingston High School together? Christie boasted that he was class president and an athlete so he couldn't have known someone as nebbishy as Wildstein. So has Christie changed in all these years? Fuggedaboutit!
10
A typical whopper of a tale. Somebody caught a giant tuna (or a whale?) in the Hudson right off the GW Bridge and it got away.
2
What about prosecution of Chris Christie ? It ain't over till the fat man sings....
4
Reduced jail time for ratting out his colleagues... I suppose so.
No jail time? That truly smells of corruption. Shame on Judge Wigenton.
No jail time? That truly smells of corruption. Shame on Judge Wigenton.
7
And in November, 2013, Democrats in NJ helped to re-elect Christie in a 65-35 landslide.
With friends like these...
With friends like these...
4
"Mr. Wildstein was portrayed as a political trickster who relished dirty tactics and deceit that seemed pulled from fictional political thrillers, including stealing then-Senator Frank R. Lautenberg’s jacket before a debate..."
I hope his 500 hours of community services includes tending to Lautenberg's grave. On second thought, he's not worthy.
I hope his 500 hours of community services includes tending to Lautenberg's grave. On second thought, he's not worthy.
3
And our two-tiered system of justice continues to allow privileged white people to litigate away their crimes. There is literally nothing working in this country for "regular" people.
9
The judge, the prosecutors, and the defendant are all part of the crony Republican administrative state of Chris Christie's New Jersey, all ruefully empowered and ensconced by New Jersey voters. The voters are obviously New Jersey drivers - they obviously can't see where they are going!
3
I cannot describe what I think of this convicted criminal because the NY Times would not publish those words. I will observe, that I am not surprised that a political dirty-trickster and a deceitful miscreant would act like the rat that he is and work to put others in jail for what he masterminded. Too bad the jury that convicted Kelly and Baroni could not see that their reliance on Wildstein made them--the jury--part of his plot against New Jersey.
3
Meanwhile, an unarmed black man is being shot 8 times in the back by a police officer. In other words: Justice, the American way.
4
As a former NJ person I feel badly for all the North Jersey people who suffered through this event. And I understand giving testimony in exchange for a lighter sentence, with the need for such policies. But I just wish the judge had added a phrase to Mr. Wildstein's sentence so he would be barred from any further contact, employment, or even proximity to any elected politician. With the climate and tenor of our national Administration, this guy could be scooped right up and promoted into the big leagues of dirty deal in a millisecond!
4
Ah, I see from further reading that his sentence includes a ban on "working for government". That doesn't make me feel any differently, as so many tales out of this current Administration are about non official people involved within the inner circles of power... He'll find a place, I fear for sure.
Wildstein is what we call a rat. He devised the plan- then- turned on those he lured into the plan to pay the ultimate price. How does a man like this live with himself? The lowest form of cowardice.
4
This guy literally calls himself the mastermind of an awful affront to our government, indeed to our entire democracy's integrity, and he gets the same punishment (or even more lenient in some cases) as kids who get caught with pot?! What kind of message does this send to our kids? Bridgegate was bad enough, but this punishment is worse. Impunity keeps broken systems broken; unfortunately, I am afraid we will continue to see such brazen political maneuvering far more than any public official is afraid of getting their proper sentence should they choose to engage in illegal behavior. We need to begin punishing powerful people the same way we punish turnstile jumpers. But don't call Giuliani for help on this one.
2
To bad the Russians hadn't hacked his emails. Probably would have implicated Christie. That's the problem with those Russians, they always save the bad guys.
1
What "tremendous" news! Now he will be available to join the trump administration or become a consultant for FOX News (maybe even both)! Making America great again...
4
He should be made to sit in his car, in those lanes of traffic, surrounded by cones, unmoving, for hours each day. I was trapped in that traffic jam and at the time could see no reason for it. What a waste of everyone's time that day. It's disgusting how little respect these people have for ordinary people going about their ordinary lives.
6
Disgusting. Kelly and Baroni are free pending appeal. Christie walks free. The Hobby Lobby family gets a free pass. White people just don't have to go to jail anymore.
4
Really disgraceful.
The wrong people went to prison.
Wildenstein and his pal Christie should be wearing orange today.
The wrong people went to prison.
Wildenstein and his pal Christie should be wearing orange today.
3
What, Christie Alley was involved? The actress? Well I'll be...
:)
:)
People were trapped in their vehicles for over four hours. Imagine the discomfort. It hurts my bladder just thinking about it.
Christie - no penalty.
Mastermind - no penalty.
Lying underlings - minimal penalty.
Outrageous.
Christie - no penalty.
Mastermind - no penalty.
Lying underlings - minimal penalty.
Outrageous.
6
I thought deals were made with the small fish to get the big fish. Mr W seems to be the big fish and the little fish are going to the slam. It seems the feds got this way wrong.
5
If Wildstein's testimony helped convict Kelly and Baroni and Wildstein insisted Christie knew of this scheme then why wasn't Christie prosecuted.
10
At the time of the bridge closing Howard Glazer the then Operations Director for Cuomo said, "it was a NJ problem". Traffic backed up into Washington Heights and not one single NYC elected official demanded an investigation, and to date no comment about the bridge closing from the emperor in NY. NY travels couldn't get to where they had to go, teachers traveling to school stuck in traffic and not a care by the leader of NY or any elected official. It's time for authority reform in NY and let's start with the Port Authority. From hiring, patronage jobs, poor planning for decades and an eye sore of a transportation hubs.
7
Either Christie knew all about all this -- in which case, indictment and removal from office warranted -- or he didn't know -- in which case, he's guilty of incomprehensible lack of oversight, negligence, and dereliction of duty --and in which case removal of office is called for ("for cause"), along with denial of all future NJ-taxpayer-paid-for pension and perks.
Christie obviously knew, but my point is that in no way should he escape scot-free! An utter travesty of justice, that only further encourages future similar criminality and further erodes the public's faith in elected officials, the rule of law, and our justice system.
Christie obviously knew, but my point is that in no way should he escape scot-free! An utter travesty of justice, that only further encourages future similar criminality and further erodes the public's faith in elected officials, the rule of law, and our justice system.
14
Could somebody please explain to me how Christie was not indicted?
7
This man now meets the qualifications for POTUS. Give him the GOP nomination in 2020!!!
11
Finally Mr. Wildstein can hit the beach. Wildwood anyone?
3
Nixon never went to jail. No jail for Christie. Now no jail for an admitted crook.
What ever happened to the concept of equal under the law?
What ever happened to the concept of equal under the law?
9
Anyone who believes for one moment that Christie didn't know about the plan to close those access lanes is a visiting Martian. Christie ran an iron-fisted ship, and nothing occurred without his knowledge or permission. As the old saying has it, "the fish rots from the head down". Christie surrounded himself with people just like him - Wildstein, Baroni, and Kelly being the poster illustrations of same.
None of us who grew up in the tri-state area are particularly surprised that Christie has gotten off scot free legally, but there is at least the gratification that he can kiss his presidential ambitions goodbye. He remains, of course, as morally and ethically challenged as ever, shrugging off the fates of those saps who took the fall for him without a backward glance.
And the moral of this story is, "If you lie down with dogs, you shall get up with fleas."
None of us who grew up in the tri-state area are particularly surprised that Christie has gotten off scot free legally, but there is at least the gratification that he can kiss his presidential ambitions goodbye. He remains, of course, as morally and ethically challenged as ever, shrugging off the fates of those saps who took the fall for him without a backward glance.
And the moral of this story is, "If you lie down with dogs, you shall get up with fleas."
22
Snakes are true to their nature. Being the ones most likely to mastermind a criminal act, they are also most likely to turn rat when caught. Avoid snakes.
Please understand that this only refers to bipedal snakes. Other snakes are fine.
Please understand that this only refers to bipedal snakes. Other snakes are fine.
5
Goes to show not only are elected govt. officials like our morbidly obese governor corrupt to the core, but so are the appointed govt. officials especially those in our justice system. We need judges that represent the people and not ones that represent our corrupt government. The bridge-gate perpetrators should be doing at least 20 years apiece at hard labor. They are heinous criminals plain and simple. The judge(s) that passed this kangaroo court sentence match their criminality. We need a lottery draft system for judges so they are not appointed for life because of political favors. Every licensed attorney needs to donate three years sitting on the bench or as a prosecutor to remain in the bar. These volunteers can be paid a nominal salary to cover expenses and meals (more or less similar to how juries are handled) and save the tax payers from paying 6 figures salaries to corrupt dirt-bags that are working against the people.
8
Hmmm, Baroni -2 years, Kelly-18 months, Wildstein- probation, CC weekend vacation at closed NJ state beach. Ain't America great!?
28
And meanwhile, Christie himself has been auditioning for a new job as what can only be called a "Shock Jock" at the sports radio station WFAN.
4
What is wrong with this picture? The "mastermind" of the "crime" prances out of the courtroom scot-free. And Bridget Kelly, not exactly a mastermind, is sentenced to do time. When it comes to women in politics, don't tell me there isn't a double standard in this country .
This is disgusting. Guess men are born with a get out of jail free card.
This is disgusting. Guess men are born with a get out of jail free card.
11
When a criminal defendant fully cooperates and provides testimony that helps convict others, it is customary that prosecutors will agree to ask for leniency in sentencing. There are no guarantees, of course, since the judge is the ultimate arbiter and might disregard the prosecutors' recommendation. While it might feel unsatisfying, it is entirely appropriate and serves the public interest in obtaining convictions against individuals who might otherwise escape prosecution for lack of evidence, and saving government resources.
6
Just because it's protocol, does it make this appropriate?! I think it is totally inappropriate to offer this guy a deal at all - he should be turning over names and cooperating because it is the right thing to do, not because there is a deal in it for him. This sentence condones the same deal-striking atmosphere that propels such scandals from happening in the first place. We need to stop incentivizing this type of behavior.
1
Spoken like a true persecutor--er, I mean, prosecutor.
Granting immunity or lighter sentences is meant to be used to get higher-up criminals. In this case the "mastermind" testifies against his subordinates and got off. This is not the way it is supposed to work!
2
None of these men received a just punishment. The prison time in each case is appropriate, but they should also be paying large amounts of money as compensation to the commuters who were trapped and to every jurisdiction that had to pay extra to police officers and emergency workers to untangle the mess.
28
Imagine, if you will, an African American middle manager being in Wildstein's shoes. And the sentence would be?
36
life
3
It's all about class, not race. Didn't they let a moneyed African American get away with murder in your state?
3
This is appalling. You can draw a straight line from this legal outcome to the utter lack of consequences for the perpetrator-in-chief. The less you had to do with this crime, the more you were punished. Meanwhile, no one mentions the 600 pound gorilla on the beach.
93
Didn't at least one person die because of Bridgegate? If so, this must come as cold comfort for his/her family. Not to mention the governor who had to have been in the thick of things.
5
I'm still not sure why Christi would reasonably expect that he could pressure a small city mayor to endorse him – a mayor who was a Democrat, for god's sake! Why would a Democratic mayor endorse him?
Then Christie risks everything to visit retribution on not only that mayor, but also, in the course of doing so, the residents of Fort Lee and all of Bergen County.
Am I missing something? In all of the coverage of this story, I've never seen anyone even attempt to explain why Christie would so greatly covet that particular endorsement. All of the stories seem to accept that as par for the course.
Anyone?
Then Christie risks everything to visit retribution on not only that mayor, but also, in the course of doing so, the residents of Fort Lee and all of Bergen County.
Am I missing something? In all of the coverage of this story, I've never seen anyone even attempt to explain why Christie would so greatly covet that particular endorsement. All of the stories seem to accept that as par for the course.
Anyone?
9
He wanted complete loyalty, from both parties. the Bridge conspiracy wasn't to gain his endorsement. It was REVENGE OR PUNISHMENT because the mayor refused endorsement.
9
Christie wanted to show bipartisan support in his effort to clinch the republican nomination for president. He thought he'd look lovely like the most winnable candidate for the Republicans. Look at what we got instead!
1
It was because of Christie's political ambitions. He wanted to be seen as a bipartisan centrist who had support of all these Democratic mayors for his run at President. Not only that he also scheduled Senator Booker's special election a month before his own re-election so that he would have a larger margin of victory - he was going to win either way but wasted the taxpayers money and time to make him look better.
He's the epitome of a petty man and the only good thing to come out of Trump's Presidency is the hubris Christie received when Kushner locked him out of any job in the administration for putting Kushner's father in jail. At least Kushner could get proper revenge. Christie just had his incompetent stooges make life miserable for thousands of his constituents for a couple of days.
He's the epitome of a petty man and the only good thing to come out of Trump's Presidency is the hubris Christie received when Kushner locked him out of any job in the administration for putting Kushner's father in jail. At least Kushner could get proper revenge. Christie just had his incompetent stooges make life miserable for thousands of his constituents for a couple of days.
2
Donald Trump should release all his federal and state tax returns right not to the American people !
1
And that would achieve what?
Christie's turn to face the music.
Christie said he did not hear about the disaster at the bridge initiated by his underlings for three days. How is that possible when the story was all over the news and the radio traffic reports? WCBS and WINS each have 6 traffic reports per hour, every hour. Even his precious WFAN has three reports per hour.
He'd have to have missed about 300 traffic reports per day for three days to have been oblivious to what was going on at the Bridge.
Christie said he did not hear about the disaster at the bridge initiated by his underlings for three days. How is that possible when the story was all over the news and the radio traffic reports? WCBS and WINS each have 6 traffic reports per hour, every hour. Even his precious WFAN has three reports per hour.
He'd have to have missed about 300 traffic reports per day for three days to have been oblivious to what was going on at the Bridge.
24
Christie would never admit it, but to paraphrase his friend DJT Jr., he probably wishes he had done things differently!
3
That's great. They should put Christie in the cell they were going to use for Wildstein.
22
Hopefully no one else in need of a political dirty trickster will hire this guy now that he has proven to be a squealer.
3
Pathetic.
Oh well.
It's New Jersey.
What do you expect?
Oh well.
It's New Jersey.
What do you expect?
6
This was home grown domestic terrorism.
Imagine if a ...... or a ....... (fill in the blank) were guilty of these crimes. The outrage would be swift and punishments would be severe.
Imagine if a ...... or a ....... (fill in the blank) were guilty of these crimes. The outrage would be swift and punishments would be severe.
6
The rest should have sentences in keeping with their harboring the true criminal mastermind by their omerta: It Ain't Over Till the Fat Christie Sings!!!
7
So David Wildstein decided to turn state's evidence "with the hope of avoiding prison". No mention of remorse for wrongdoing. He doesn't seem to be sorry at all for his role in Bridgegate, only regret at having been caught and found out. So now Wildstein can soak up the sun at New Jersey beaches instead of doing time in federal prison...SMH.
9
I'm sure this was all worked out way back when it started. Gov Crispie told Waldstein, "take the blame and I'll make sure you get probation - no big deal, now pass me those dozen donuts I gotta go to the beach."
18
So I can be the mastermind of a crime that impacted thousands, but as long as I rat out the people who executed it for me, I'll get a pass? Ohhhhh the possibilities....
9
SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW. SAME OLD STORY MONEY TALKS, POOR PEOPLE GET SHAFTED.
7
Professor Moriarity , the puppeteer , walks . Those whose strings he pulled do time...after he rats them out at trial in the hope of saving his own skin.
What a guy.
Meanwhile the good Governor basks on his own private beach while his constituents swelter. And then rubs it in on his WFAN sports talk show by calling disgruntled New Jerseyans school yard names and hanging up on them. Much like he hung up on the entire state by his absence during a failed presidential campaign and the several more months spent as Toady in Chief to the Donald.
And of course The Guv never told Wildstein to give the Mayor of Ft. Lee some grief..... The real Moriarity got away unscathed.
What a guy.
What a guy.
Meanwhile the good Governor basks on his own private beach while his constituents swelter. And then rubs it in on his WFAN sports talk show by calling disgruntled New Jerseyans school yard names and hanging up on them. Much like he hung up on the entire state by his absence during a failed presidential campaign and the several more months spent as Toady in Chief to the Donald.
And of course The Guv never told Wildstein to give the Mayor of Ft. Lee some grief..... The real Moriarity got away unscathed.
What a guy.
7
I caught a bit of Christie on the FAN. A caller called in and praised Christie for saying "hey--if you want to go to the beach just become governor." He and his friends thought it was hilarious. And really great.
Heckuva great country we've got here.
Heckuva great country we've got here.
1
Meanwhile, back at the empty beach the Christy family frolicks.
4
Probation? Excellent! More time to hit the beach!
7
The governor should be subject to impeachment proceedings over this. I can't believe that this was entirely the work of underlings. Lawmakers should hold the governor to account. Until that happens, justice is not served.
28
The Trump Jr thing/Trump Sr didn't know about the meeting, seems so familiar....
2
A 'mastermind'? Really? Closing two lanes of a bridge and your considered a mastermind? Our perception of intelligence has sunk to a new low.
8
Yes, "mastermind" might be just a bit hyperbolic given the fact that it was a petty, idiotic and essentially pointless plot. The idea that it was concocted as some sort of payback for Sokolich was deemed too simplistic and obvious when it was initially floated as the motive for the lane closures.
Can you even be considered a "mastermind" of something so inherently stupid?
You basically punish innocent people trying to go to work while the target doesn't even know he's the target.
The fact that Christie and Wildstein go free while Kelly and Baroni go to prison is disgraceful, but nobody seems surprised or concerned about it at all.
Can you even be considered a "mastermind" of something so inherently stupid?
You basically punish innocent people trying to go to work while the target doesn't even know he's the target.
The fact that Christie and Wildstein go free while Kelly and Baroni go to prison is disgraceful, but nobody seems surprised or concerned about it at all.
Ridiculous travesty of justice, but then again, the US Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Virginia's corrupt governor, Robert McDonnell. The elite look out for one another. No doubt, Donald Trump Jr. will get a similar slap on the wrist rather than jail time.
10
Mr. Trump, Jr. will never serve jail time, should he ever be charged and convicted. He will be pardoned in a heartbeat. There seems to be no way to stop this rot, or even slow its spread.
3
I don't live in New Jersey and I've not followed this closely.
Why would the prosecutors plea bargain with the mastermind of this plot?
Was he considered a 'smaller fish' compared to the two, who were convicted?
This clown should have spent time in prison as part of the plea bargain, based on how he's described in this article.
Why would the prosecutors plea bargain with the mastermind of this plot?
Was he considered a 'smaller fish' compared to the two, who were convicted?
This clown should have spent time in prison as part of the plea bargain, based on how he's described in this article.
16
A travesty.
If only the potential sentences had been way stiffer, the really guilty party would have taken a fall -- and not just the usual expendable Myrmidons.
If we are willing to lock up for five years (mandatory) someone with 28 grams (1 ounce) of crack cocaine, sentences for public corruption (which hurts so many more persons) should be at least as severe.
If only the potential sentences had been way stiffer, the really guilty party would have taken a fall -- and not just the usual expendable Myrmidons.
If we are willing to lock up for five years (mandatory) someone with 28 grams (1 ounce) of crack cocaine, sentences for public corruption (which hurts so many more persons) should be at least as severe.
42
Wow. It's nice to be white and wealthy in America.
54
You are correct, AM. It is nice to be white in America.
'A culture obsessed with power and revenge, punctuated by blind ambition.'
'A political trickster who relished dirty tricks and deceit that seemed pulled from fictional political thrillers...'
Any wonder that Wildstein's master Chris Christie was our current President's fair haired boy, until he started to stumble clumsily over his own two feet and became a transparent, ludicrous, corpulent liability?
'A political trickster who relished dirty tricks and deceit that seemed pulled from fictional political thrillers...'
Any wonder that Wildstein's master Chris Christie was our current President's fair haired boy, until he started to stumble clumsily over his own two feet and became a transparent, ludicrous, corpulent liability?
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And was the prosecutor who put Papa Kushner in prison. Trump used him all he could, then kicked him to the curb as he had surely promised Jared that he would.
1
Regular people would have paid high fines and spent time in jail.
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I get what you are saying, but just have to comment, "regular people", I hope, wouldn't stoop so low to begin with.
1
In the absence of Bridgegate, might we have a President Christie?
Or (and maybe more likely) a Vice President Christie?
Thank God for Bridgegate.
Or (and maybe more likely) a Vice President Christie?
Thank God for Bridgegate.
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As much as I find the thought of President Christie utterly repugnant, even that would be better than what we have now.
5
When will America wake up???
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Seriously, WHY do prosecutors have this power? WHY do prosecutors get any say in the sentence? If there is no penalty to these crimes then what good is it to prosecute anyone? I suppose it would have helped if he got caught with some pot and was black. Maybe THEN he'd have been jailed.
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Prosecutors cannot manufacture evidence and that's at the end of the day what they need to convince a jury. Not pretty not liked but it is what it is; two people were found guilty and Wildstein is now a convicted felon, but agree I wish he had done at least one year in prison.
I'm not heartless but hope Kelly doesn't get a light sentence because of her kids.
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She has already been sentenced. Prison time.
BTW, you are heartless.
BTW, you are heartless.
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Wildstein should have to do some shock time. Not much. Maybe two weeks. Horrible people come from all economic classes and he shouldn't get a total pass just because he's not one of the little people.
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OK, Wildstein gets off lightly for providing testimony... But where's the prosecution of the obvious mastermind: Christie?
It simply beggars belief that Christie didn't know and probably pressure these underlings to indulge in these illegal activities.
The usual course of leniency-in-exchange-for-testimony is to build a case against the otherwise-shielded mastermind, NOT underlings!
Testimony of Wildstein, Kelly, and Baroni should be used to indict Christie! Otherwise, this is all merely another travesty of justice!
It simply beggars belief that Christie didn't know and probably pressure these underlings to indulge in these illegal activities.
The usual course of leniency-in-exchange-for-testimony is to build a case against the otherwise-shielded mastermind, NOT underlings!
Testimony of Wildstein, Kelly, and Baroni should be used to indict Christie! Otherwise, this is all merely another travesty of justice!
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Makes sense. Once again, only the NJ citizens lost.
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NJ gets what it votes for. When they tell voters who they are, believe them.
It is hard to believe that the Governor did not know and approve of this operation.
If Christie does not go to the clink then none of the others should either.
If Christie does not go to the clink then none of the others should either.
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David, two wrongs don't make a right. Maybe all of them should go to jail? Or some. But just because Christie doesn't, shouldn't mean the others are exempt.
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Not "hard to believe", IMPOSSIBLE!
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Too bad. Sends the wrong message.
Anyone else screwing deliberately with interstate commerce would have gotten more.
Anyone else screwing deliberately with interstate commerce would have gotten more.
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And Christie, of course, gets off totally. Justice in America!
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" Judge Susan D. Wigenton " needs to be removed from the bench, and disbarred. She is corrupt, as this "sentencing" firmly establishes.
3
Justice in America is also a black man killed while placed in a choke hold for selling loose cigarettes.
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These Republican criminals need to go to jail, and for a serious length of time, and at the crappy private incarceration hellholes they are so fond of consigning minorities and poor people to so their buddies can buy new yachts every year. We want these felons rotting away in prison where they belong.
And we want that swine Christie in prison too. Why is the mastermind of this terrorist attack on the people of New York and New Jersey is free to tan himself on the public beaches he has closed to the voters of New Jersey in his latest fit of pique. I'd like to know what the hell he has on the US Attorney that he has yet to be indicted for ordering Bridgegate and diverting Sandy funds to his crooked contractor friends. Another Republican criminal who needs to be behind bars, with the key tossed in the nearest river.
And we want that swine Christie in prison too. Why is the mastermind of this terrorist attack on the people of New York and New Jersey is free to tan himself on the public beaches he has closed to the voters of New Jersey in his latest fit of pique. I'd like to know what the hell he has on the US Attorney that he has yet to be indicted for ordering Bridgegate and diverting Sandy funds to his crooked contractor friends. Another Republican criminal who needs to be behind bars, with the key tossed in the nearest river.
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The utter depravity of trapping people, children on school buses, in that kind of traffic for political revenge should be a trait of the Christie administration that is not forgotten.
Politicians are operating with the same sort of vengefulness and obsession with power that propelled Christie's rise. Doesn't bode well for the people.
Politicians are operating with the same sort of vengefulness and obsession with power that propelled Christie's rise. Doesn't bode well for the people.
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Life is mind-boggling in Bizarroland these days.
4