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Tom Bertoli, a political operative associated with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, is among the hundreds of potential witnesses in the ongoing Bridgegate trial. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal

(Jersey Journal file photo)

Some current and former associates of Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop may be called to the witness stand in the ongoing trial related to the George Washington Bridge lane closures.

Tom Bertoli, a longtime ally of Fulop; Fulop scheduler Nancy Warlikowski; Corporation Counsel Jeremy Farrell; and John Thieroff, a former deputy mayor, are among the hundreds of names of possible witnesses in the so-called Bridgegate trial.

Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly, two former associates of Gov. Chris Christie, are facing federal charges for allegedly planning the lane closures to punish Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Christie's re-election bid. Their trial started in earnest yesterday in a federal courtroom in Newark.

Veronica Park, who raised money for Fulop's 2013 mayoral campaign, and Muhammed Akil, formerly the mayor's chief of staff, are also among those who may be called to the witness stand.

Not all of the roughly 300 people listed will be asked to testify, according to a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. The list of names, provided to potential jurors, indicates some of the people on the list would be referred to during testimony.

Federal prosecutors allege Fulop, a Democrat, was also a target for his refusal to endorse the Republican governor in 2013. The mayor revealed on Aug. 10 that he has been asked to testify for federal prosecutors in the case.

Bertoli, who helped engineer Fulop's 2013 mayoral victory, said via text message that he doesn't know why he may be called to testify.

"I have no idea why they would want me," Bertoli said. "I use the Lincoln Tunnel."

Emails released as part of a brief submitted by Baroni's attorneys last month revealed that Christie allies in 2012 aggressively courted then-Councilman Fulop's endorsement. Fulop ultimately offered lukewarm support for Christie's opponent in 2013, Barbara Buono.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.