'Traffic Problems in Fort Lee' Bridget Anne Kelly, a deputy chief of staff to Gov. Chris Christie, emails David Wildstein, an ally of Mr. Christie’s who was serving as director of interstate capital projects at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” Ms. Kelly writes in an email later released publicly. "Got it," Mr. Wildstein replies. Lanes Close for Four Days Two of three local access lanes on the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge are abruptly closed on the first day of the school year, gridlocking the borough of Fort Lee for four consecutive mornings. On the second day, Mark Sokolich, the mayor of Fort Lee, sends a text message to Bill Baroni, deputy executive director of the Port Authority, pleading for help. “The bigger problem is getting kids to school." Mr. Sokolich writes. "Help please. It’s maddening.” Meeting at 9/11 Memorial Service Mr. Christie, Mr. Wildstein, Mr. Baroni and David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority board, attend a service in honor of Sept. 11 victims at the World Trade Center site. Mr. Wildstein later says that he discussed the lane closings with Mr. Christie at the event. Mr. Christie says he does not recall that discussion. Mayor Complains of Public Safety Problems With his calls and texts about the traffic not being returned, Mr. Sokolich writes to Mr. Baroni that he has concluded "there are punitive overtones" to the lane closings, which have "unquestionably," he adds, "negatively impacted public safety." Mr. Sokolich also calls a young aide in the governor’s office, Evan Ridley, whose boss later forwards the mayor’s complaints by email to Ms. Kelly, saying that Mr. Sokolich believes the closings are "retribution" and are causing public safety problems. Ms. Kelly forwards the email to Mr. Wildstein. Lanes Are Ordered Reopened Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority, who had not been informed about the closings, orders the lanes reopened. Mr. Foye sends an email to top authority employees and board members in which he calls the closings "hasty and ill-advised" and says they may have violated state and federal laws. Mr. Baroni forwards the email to senior staff members in Mr. Christie’s office in Trenton. Mr. Wildstein tells Ms. Kelly in an email that Mr. Samson is helping to "retaliate" against Mr. Foye and other New York appointees at the authority for reopening the lanes. Mr. Baroni tells Mr. Foye the matter should not be discussed over email. Port Authority Cites 'Traffic Study' A statement emailed by Steve Coleman, a Port Authority spokesman, to a local newspaper columnist, claims the lane closings were part of a traffic study. "The Port Authority has conducted a week of study at the... bridge of traffic-safety patterns," Mr. Coleman writes. Mayor Suggests Closings Are 'Punitive' "Someone needs to tell me that the recent traffic debacle was not punitive in nature," Mr. Sokolich says to Mr. Baroni, according to documents that have been publicly released. "The last four reporters that contacted me suggest that the people they are speaking with absolutely believe it to be punishment. Try as I may to dispel these rumors I am having a tough time." Mr. Christie's press secretary, Michael Drewniak, tells The Wall Street Journal the closings were related to a traffic study, and sends a copy of that statement to Mr. Wildstein. Executive Director's Email Is Leaked The Wall Street Journal publishes a copy of Mr. Foye's Sept. 13 email. Assemblyman Announces Inquiry Into Closings John Wisniewski, a New Jersey state assemblyman, says he will convene a hearing to investigate the lane closings and other issues. "I think the old adage that 'if it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck' applies here," Mr. Wisniewski says of the lane closings, according to The Star-Ledger. Baroni Testifies Before Assembly Panel Mr. Baroni, called to appear before the State Assembly's Transportation Committee, insists the lane closings were part of a traffic study, but acknowledges that the Port Authority should have done a better job of communicating with Fort Lee officials. He is not under oath. Afterward, Mr. Wildstein texts him that Christie administration officials were "VERY happy" with his appearance before the panel and said he had done "GREAT." Wildstein Resigns Mr. Wildstein explains in a letter to Mr. Baroni that the lane-closing issue has become “a distraction.” Mr. Drewniak writes a public statement praising Mr. Wildstein's service, and Mr. Christie personally adds his own praise to the statement before it is released. There Was No Traffic Study, Foye Testifies Mr. Foye and bridge workers testify, under oath, before the legislative committee that there was no traffic study. They call the lane closings "odd" and "wrong," and say they had not been properly authorized. Mr. Christie and his chief aide responsible for the Port Authority, Regina Egea, exchange 12 texts while the testimony is being given, but the content of the texts is erased by the time the Legislature subpoenas them in 2014. Christie Is Said to Call Cuomo About Foye According to The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Christie calls Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York to complain that Mr. Foye is pressing too hard in trying to gather information about the lane closings. Mr. Christie, a Republican, later denies calling Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat. Authority Begins Its Own Inquiry The Port Authority's inspector general opens an investigation into the lane closings, including the actions taken by Mr. Wildstein. Christie Meets With Former Aide Mr. Christie calls Bill Stepien, his two-time campaign manager, to a meeting at the governor’s official residence. Mr. Stepien tells Mr. Christie that Mr. Wildstein had approached him in the summer of 2013 with the idea to close the lanes; Mr. Stepien says he told him to "take it to Trenton." Meanwhile, the legislative panel issues subpoenas to, among others, Mr. Baroni and Mr. Wildstein. Christie Calls Lane Closings Issue Overblown; Baroni Quits Mr. Christie calls a meeting of his senior staff during which he tells them angrily that the lane closings have become a distraction. He orders anyone with any knowledge of the matter to share it with him within the hour. Mr. Christie, Mr. Stepien and Mr. Christie’s senior political adviser, Mike DuHaime, exchange several rounds of texts and phone calls over two days, trying unsuccessfully to reach Mr. Wildstein to ask what records he plans to provide to the legislative committee. The governor’s chief of staff, Kevin O’Dowd, shows Mr. Christie a copy of the email Ms. Kelly received in September outlining Mr. Sokolich’s complaints during the lane closings. Mr. Christie holds a news conference where he announces Mr. Baroni's resignation and calls the lane closings and the surrounding controversy “sensationalized.” Mr. Christie also says he had not heard about the issue before The Wall Street Journal published Mr. Foye's email. Records Suggest Political Nature of Closings Emails and texts subpoenaed by the Assembly committee that tie Mr. Christie's appointees and associates to the lane closings are leaked. Among the emails is the one from Ms. Kelly to Mr. Wildstein in which she writes: “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” The documents suggest that closing the lanes was an act of political retribution and that efforts had been made to cover it up. Mr. Christie issues a statement denying knowledge of the documents. Christie Apologizes; Wildstein Cites Fifth Amendment Rights At a two-hour news conference, Mr. Christie sounds somber and appears contrite. He says he had no advance knowledge about the closings and has been “humiliated” by the entire episode. He announces that he has fired Ms. Kelly and withdrawn Mr. Stepien as his choice for chairman of the state Republican Party. At a legislative hearing soon after, Mr. Wildstein refuses to answer questions. Second Mayor Raises Specter of Reprisal Documents made public show that during Mr. Christie's 2013 re-election campaign, his administration aggressively courted Mayor Steven Fulop of Jersey City, a Democrat, then abruptly cut Mr. Fulop off after he said he would not endorse the governor. Christie Administration Hires Prominent Lawyer Mr. Christie’s administration announces that it has hired Randy M. Mastro, a longtime associate of former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, to conduct an internal review and cooperate with the United States attorney’s investigation into the lane closings. Hoboken Mayor Says Christie Allies Issued Threats In a television interview, Mayor Dawn Zimmer of Hoboken, a Democrat, says the lieutenant governor and a state commissioner threatened in May to withhold money sought by the city for Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts if she did not support a real estate development Mr. Christie wanted built there. Wildstein Says Christie Knew of Closed Lanes A lawyer for Mr. Wildstein writes a letter claiming that “evidence exists” that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening. Mr. Christie’s office responds with a statement denying that the governor knew about the closings. “Mr. Wildstein’s lawyer confirms what the governor has said all along: He had absolutely no prior knowledge of the lane closures before they happened and whatever Mr. Wildstein’s motivations were for closing them to begin with,” the statement says. Christie’s Office Targets Wildstein in a Memo A two-page memo sent “from the governor’s office” portrays Mr. Wildstein as a loose cannon who was attacking Mr. Christie in hopes of saving himself. “In David Wildstein’s past," the memo says, "people and newspaper accounts have described him as ‘tumultuous’ and someone who ‘made moves that were not productive.’” As Subpoenaed Documents Pour In, Kelly Declines to Cooperate The first batch of what are most likely thousands of pages of documents subpoenaed by state lawmakers from prominent members of the Christie administration are turned over to investigators. Ms. Kelly, citing her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, refuses to hand over documents. U.S. Attorney Opens Inquiry Into Lane Closings Paul J. Fishman, United States attorney for New Jersey, opens a preliminary investigation into the lane closings after the matter is referred to his office by the Port Authority's inspector general. Kelly and Stepien Again Balk at Subpoenas Setting the stage for a potential court battle, Ms. Kelly and Mr. Stepien, Mr. Christie’s former campaign manager, refuse again to provide materials subpoenaed by the legislative committee. Kelly and Stepien Are Ordered to Court A judge in Trenton orders Mr. Stepien and Ms. Kelly to appear in court to explain why they are refusing to turn over potential evidence related to the lane closings. An Apology From the Port Authority A top Port Authority official apologizes to commuters who were stuck in traffic as a result of the lane closings. Judge Hears Arguments Against Document Subpoenas Ms. Kelly and Michael Critchley, her lawyer, appear in court in Trenton, along with lawyers for Mr. Stepien in a bid to quash subpoenas issued by the legislative committee investigating the lane closings. Lawyers for the two argue that by requiring their clients to make judgments about what emails “regarded” the closings, the panel was essentially forcing them to testify against themselves. Report Says Christie Knew of Closings Lawyers for Mr. Christie release an internal review that found no evidence that either Mr. Christie or his staff were involved in or aware of the lane closings before they happened. But according to the report, Mr. Wildstein said that he told Mr. Christie about the shutdown at a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony while the lanes were closed. But Mr. Christie did not recall Mr. Wildstein bringing up the topic, the report said. The inquiry instead blamed, almost entirely, Mr. Wildstein and Ms. Kelly for the scandal. Port Authority Chairman Steps Down Mr. Samson was the highest-ranking public official to step down during the scandal. Christie Aides Can Withhold Emails, Judge Rules A New Jersey judge rules that Ms. Kelly and Mr. Stepien do not have to comply with subpoenas seeking emails and other communication about the closings. The judge criticizes the subpoenas as a “fishing expedition” by the State Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats. Ex-Port Agency Official to Stop Cooperating Mr. Samson, the former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will cease cooperating with the investigation into the closings. His lawyer said the legislative committee “is engaged in a political exercise, not an objective fact-finding mission.” Kelly Not the ‘Architect’ Behind Closings, Ex-Aide Says Christina Renna, a former aide to Mr. Christie, testifies before a legislative panel that Ms. Kelly was not the “architect” behind the lane closings. It was the first time a member of the Christie administration testified before the panel. No Involvement in ‘Reckless’ Act, Press Secretary Says Mr. Drewniak testifies, “I can say with complete confidence and comfort that none of these people, starting with Gov. Chris Christie, had any involvement whatsoever in this reckless and perplexing episode.” Mr. Drewniak, the most senior administration official to testify before the legislative panel, said he had no role in it either. Former Aide Talks of Monitoring Fort Lee Mayor Matt Mowers, who worked in Mr. Christie’s office and then for his 2013 re-election campaign, testifies that the administration worked to woo Fort Lee's mayor for at least a year and a half before the bridge lanes were closed in an act of political retribution. Mr. Mowers testifies that “in colorful language” Mr. Sokolich had told him he supported the governor, but could not endorse him because he feared he would lose business relationships and his endorsement would prompt retribution from Democrats. Chief of Staff Says He Knew Nothing About Lane Closings Kevin O’Dowd, the chief of staff for Mr. Christie and the highest-ranking member of the administration to testify over the scandal before a state legislative committee, said, “I would like to start my appearance today by making very clear to the committee that I had no prior knowledge of, or played no role in, the decision to close the lanes at the bridge last September.” Aide Said She Texted Mr. Christie About Lane Closings Mr. Christie’s designated future chief of staff, Regina Egea, testifies that she texted the governor about the lane closings in December. But she said she deleted the texts. No Evidence That Christie Knew of Closings, Report Finds A report by a New Jersey legislative committee finds “no conclusive evidence” about whether Mr. Christie knew about the bridge lane closings before or as they were happening. But in a detailed chronology, the report argues that he had many opportunities to know about the lane closings, the political motive behind them and the involvement of his administration. Obscure Fraud Law Could Be Used in Bridge Case Federal prosecutors consider a rarely used provision of a fraud statute that could argue that associates of Mr. Christie used the bridge for a purpose other than its intended one, according to people close to the case. Cuomo and Christie Reject Bill to Overhaul Port Authority Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Christie, defying the unanimous votes of both their Legislatures, reject a bill aimed at curbing political interference and patronage at the Port Authority. Indictments May Be Near After 15 months of speculation, investigators appear to be tying up loose ends in the inquiry into gridlock on the New Jersey side of the bridge. Indictments Unsealed: Wildstein Pleads Guilty; Charges Against 2 Others Mr. Wildstein pleads guilty at the United States District Court in Newark to conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy against civil rights. Mr. Baroni and Ms. Kelly are charged with nine counts, including conspiracy to commit fraud by “knowingly converting and intentionally misapplying property of an organization receiving federal benefits.” Kelly and Baroni Plead Not Guilty Ms. Kelly and Mr. Baroni plead not guilty to federal charges that they participated in the George Washington Bridge scandal. Michael Critchley, the lawyer for Ms. Kelly, said, “The longer you have Bridget Kelly on the stand, you will obviously come to the conclusion we are saying today and have said all along, that she is not guilty." Mr. Baroni also described himself as “an innocent man.” Prosecutors Seek to Seal Evidence Federal prosecutors who brought charges against Mr. Baroni and Ms. Kelly want to seal the evidence collected during their 16-month investigation, saying they want to shield public officials and others not charged in the case from potentially embarrassing disclosures. Governor Announces Bid for President Mr. Christie vows to campaign and govern as a colorful teller of difficult truths, even if “it makes you cringe every once in a while.” But the bridge case poses a continuing problem for Mr. Christie as he campaigns. Where Will This Bridge Lead Next? The federal investigation into the lane closings lead prosecutors to look into the dealings of the Port Authority and its chairman at the time, Mr. Samson. It reveals his close relationship with officials at United, the largest carrier at Newark Liberty International Airport, which the authority runs. Amid the investigation, United's chief executive and two senior officials of United Airlines resign, as does New Jersey’s transportation commissioner. Lawyers Say Ex-Allies Have Not Received Documents Lawyers for Mr. Baroni and Ms. Kelly complain to a federal court that prosecutors and the governor’s lawyers had not provided emails and other documents related to the lane-closing scheme. Mr. Baroni’s lawyers also demand more information about a computer hard drive they contend was stolen by Mr. Wildstein. Judge Critical of Internal Investigation In an opinion, a federal judge harshly criticizes the internal investigation that cleared Gov. Christie of any wrongdoing in the scandal, saying it was a “calculated strategy” of “opacity and gamesmanship” rather than the thorough and transparent inquiry that the governor promised. “It’s easy to see why defendants have cried foul,” Judge Susan D. Wigenton of United States District Court in Newark writes. Kelly and Baroni Ask Judge to Throw Out Charges In separate court filings, Ms. Kelly and Mr. Baroni say that the charges they face are based on vague federal laws that have been twisted to fit the facts of the case. Christie Ends Presidential Campaign A day after Mr. Christie came in sixth in the New Hampshire presidential primary, he drops out of the race. Wildstein Says Christie Broke Grand Jury Law A sworn statement by Mr. Wildstein, from a civil case separate from the federal prosecution in the bridge case, describes Mr. Christie breaking the law as he exercised a heavy hand over state politics from the front office. It portrays the governor, a former United States attorney, casually revealing information about a grand jury proceeding he had overseen, which violates federal law. Samson Admits to Bribery Over Airline Route Mr. Samson, Mr. Christie’s appointee as chairman of the Port Authority at the time of the lane closings, pleads guilty to a felony count of bribery and admits that he had pressured United Airlines to operate a weekly flight to South Carolina for his personal convenience. He has not been charged in the bridge case. 'He Just Flat Out Lied,' Aide Says of Christie A court filing details a text message that Ms. Renna, the former aide to Mr. Christie, had sent to a colleague during a news conference by the governor on Dec. 13, 2013. In the text, Ms. Renna accused Mr. Christie of lying about his campaign chief, Mr. Stepien, not having knowledge of the lane closings. Christie Knew of Plot as It Unfolded, Prosecutors Say Mr. Christie knew about the closing of the bridge lanes while the scheme was happening, federal prosecutors said during opening statements at the trial of Mr. Baroni and Ms. Kelly. It was the first time a prosecutor had pointed a finger at Mr. Christie, who has repeatedly denied knowing about the closings as they happened. Fort Lee Officials Recall Chaos Mr. Sokolich, the mayor of Fort Lee, and Keith M. Bendul, the police chief, took the witness stand and offered dramatic details about the chaos on the day of the lane closings, and the futile efforts of the officials to get relief. “I was begging for someone to help,” Mr. Sokolich said. Port Authority Chief Says Christie Ally Pressed Him to Reclose Lanes After Mr. Foye, the executive director of the Port Authority, ordered the reversal of the mysterious lane closings near the George Washington Bridge, he recalled a close ally of Mr. Christie pressuring him to reclose the lanes, saying the issue was "important to Trenton." He kept pressing even after Mr. Foye reminded him that ambulances had been caught in the gridlock caused by the lane closings — that "someone could have died." Lane Closings Mastermind Takes the Stand Mr. Wildstein, the admitted mastermind of the lane closings, broke a three-year silence as he testified over eight days to the details behind the scheme. As the prosecution’s star witness, his testimony described how the plan was formed, when Mr. Christie learned about it, and which other politicians were wrapped up in scheme. Among the many revelations he offered: Christie Aide Asked to Delete Email A co-worker testified that Ms. Kelly called her and asked her to delete an email just before news of the scandal broke. In the email, the co-worker, Ms. Renna, had informed Ms. Kelly that the mayor of Fort Lee complained about safety hazards caused by the lane closures. Ms. Kelly’s reply: “Good.” Did Christie Know Beforehand? Ms. Kelly discussed the George Washington Bridge lane closings with her boss, Mr. Christie, before they happened and while they were happening, her lawyer asserted. The lawyer, Michael Critchley, did not elaborate on his cryptic claims, which he made while questioning a prosecution witness. Misconduct Complaint Against Christie A citizen's complaint claimed Mr. Christie "knowingly refrained" from telling his aides to take action in re-opening the closed bridge lanes. A municipal court judge, Roy F. McGeady of Bergen County, must decide whether to seek an indictment against Mr. Christie. Ex-Aide Said He Was Advised to Not Call Fort Lee Mayor Bill Baroni, once a top official in Gov. Chris Christie's administration, was asked in court why he did not return the panicked messages from Mayor Mark Sokolich of Fort Lee, N.J., over the closing of the bridge lanes. “I have asked myself that question a thousand times,” Mr. Baroni said. He testified that David Wildstein, once one of his closest friends, told him to stand down and also duped him into believing the closings were part of a traffic study, one that was important to the governor. Ex-Aide Said She Believed Traffic Study Was Behind Closings Bridget Anne Kelly, who wrote "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" in an email, broke her long silence and testified that the idea to close the lanes had been sold to her as a traffic study that Mr. Christie had already signed off on. Ex-Aide Says Christie Had ‘Memory Issue’ In her continued testimony, Ms. Kelly said that she felt she was in “an alternate universe” when Mr. Christie and his team disavowed having knowledge of the shutdown. She said that she told the governor about the proposed study before the lanes were closed, and reminded him twice during the week they were taking place. She said that she also told Kevin O’Dowd, her boss and the governor's chief of staff.