New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said on Jan. 8 that he was "misled" by his staff after revelations that one of his aides played a role in closing lanes on the George Washington Bridge, one of the busiest bridges in the U.S., this past September.
Christie is set to hold a press conference today, Jan. 9, at 11:00 a.m., to address the issue publically.
The Republican governor is expected to make a bid for the White House in 2016, though he has been hurt by the GWB scandal since many believe the lanes were closed as a move meant to punish a New Jersey Democratic mayor.
"What I've seen today for the first time is unacceptable. I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge," Christie said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Christie has repeatedly said that he and his staff didn't play a role in the lane closures, which was a nightmare for hundreds of thousands of residents, according to Reuters. The emails, released this week, confirm that at least one of his aides were involved in discussions about the closures "weeks" before it took place, according to CNN.
The GWB carries over 300,000 vehicles on a normal day, and the sudden and unexpected closures caused nasty traffic in Fort Lee, N.J. at the end of the bridge.
This went on for four days straight before the lanes were reopened.
Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich did not endorse Christie's re-election this past November.
The Port Authority of N.Y. and N.J. claimed that the closures were "the result of last-minute traffic study," according to Reuters.
"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," said Christie aide, Bridget Anne Kelly, wrote to a Port Authority executive in August 2013.
"Got it," said David Wildstein, the Port Authority executive in an email back to Christie's aide.
The lane closures causes a number of issues on the GWB, including four medical emergencies.
A 91-year-old woman died of cardiac arrest after being stuck on the bridge for too long, and major car accident occurred, in which at least four people were hurt, according to Reuters.
"Governor Christie has spent an enormous amount of effort trying to get away from the narrative that he is a bully," said Matthew Hale, an associate professor of political science at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. "These emails destroy all of that effort in a single day."
The now controversial emails were released to the media by Wildstein, after receiving a subpoena by a panel of state lawmakers, according to AP.
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