Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich. | AP Photo/Julio Cortez Accused former Christie aide repudiates testimony of other witnesses in Bridgegate trial

NEWARK — The cross examination of Bridget Anne Kelly reached a slow crescendo in federal court Tuesday as Gov. Chris Christie's former aide was forced to confront her own words and the testimony of her former co-workers — testimony she said was mistaken.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna tried to establish Kelly, on trial for conspiracy charges in the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal, as an influential operative in Christie's administration, capable of pulling off the alleged act of retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich. Kelly, in tears at several points Monday, adopted a more defiant tone under questions from the government Tuesday, insisting she was not someone who held enough sway to perpetrate the lane closure conspiracy.


Khanna started the day methodically examining emails and text messages from Kelly and by afternoon began relentlessly questioning her version of events, her lack of knowledge about the reasoning behind the lane closures and the contradiction between her own testimony and that of two of her former subordinates.

Kelly testified early in the day that she was unaware of any specific animosity against Sokolich, a Democrat who did not endorse Christie's reelection bid, and that to her knowledge he shared a decent relationship with the governor's office. Khanna then confronted her with worried texts from Sokolich on Sept. 10, 2013, the second day of the lane closures.

At the time, Kelly had been forwarded a text from Sokolich to her co-defendant, former Port Authority deputy director Bill Baroni. Sokolich expressed concerns about the traffic caused by the closures, saying children were not able to get to school.

"[Sokolich] said 'Help please. It's madness,'" Khanna said, recounting the text. "You didn't reach out to the mayor at all when you got this message?"

Instead, Kelly had sent a text to David Wildstein, the admitted architect of the closings, saying "Is it wrong that I'm smiling? ... I feel bad for the kids, I guess."

Kelly testified she was 'smiling' because she was happy that Wildstein's supposed traffic study on the bridge was a success, without any safety issues. She then said she was genuinely concerned about the children.

"I truly felt badly about the children," Kelly testified. "I know it's been portrayed to be whatever everybody else wants it to be."

Khanna also rehashed text messages Kelly exchanged with Wildstein about Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, whom both found "annoying." Days after Kelly's infamous "time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" email to Wildstein, she exchanged messages with Wildstein about Carlebach.

"We cannot cause traffic problems in front of his house, can we?," Kelly texted.

Asked about the message on the stand, Kelly insisted the text was simply a joke, and was not an indication that traffic jams were used for retribution.

"All of the Port Authority related problems caused traffic problems," she said. "It was banter. Again, a poor choice of words."

Key to Kelly's defense is the notion that she was under the impression all along that the Fort Lee lane closures were part of a traffic study and not political retribution against Sokolich for not endorsing the governor. But statements by previous witnesses at the trial indicate she was aware of the punitive nature of the closures.

Chris Stark, a former aide who answered to Kelly, testified that she said, "We are doing enough to mess with him," referring to Sokolich.

"My testimony is that I did not say that to Mr. Stark," Kelly testified Tuesday.

Kelly also denied comments made by Jeanne Ashmore, a former Christie aide who said she briefed Kelly on constituent complaints about the traffic during the closures and that Kelly smiled at points during the briefing.

Kelly also denied testimony by Matt Mowers, a former Christie campaign aid who testified that Kelly asked him if Sokolich was definitely not endorsing Christie.

"You're testifying now that Miss Ashmore's testimony was also false," Khanna said Tuesday. "Just like Chris Stark and Matt Mowers — all false testimony."

Kelly said they had different recollections.

Asked about the testimony after the day's proceedings, Kelly's lawyer, Michael Critchley said he would address it in his closing remarks.

"I'll have more to say about that in my summation. Everybody had a chance to listen to the testimony as it came in," he said. "You won't be surprised by my summation."

Cross examination of Kelly continues Wednesday. Lawyers predicted the jury could begin deliberating by late Friday or early Monday.