New Jersey lawmakers say they have found no evidence that governor Chris Christie was involved in a politically motivated scheme to cause traffic jams near the George Washington bridge.

A report obtained by media on Thursday found no evidence that could confirm that Christie, a presumed candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, was aware of the so-called “Bridegate” scandal, which was orchestrated by two of his former aides.

Investigators said former Christie aides Bridget Anne Kelly and David Wildstein acted with “perceived impunity” and with little regard for public safety in orchestrating selective lane closures on the bridge, which links New Jersey with northern Manhattan, in September 2013.

Christie attorney Randy Mastro said the findings in the 136-page interim report corroborate an investigation commissioned by Christie, which also cleared him of being involved.

“The committee has finally acknowledged what we reported nine months ago – namely, that there is not a shred of evidence Governor Christie knew anything about the GWB lane realignment beforehand or that any current member of his staff was involved in that decision,” Mastro said in a statement.

Wildstein and Kelly set up a lane closure that reduced access to the bridge going into New York City from Fort Lee, New Jersey – a small town of 35,000. The closures created overwhelming gridlock in the small city, with public officials warning of threats to public safety. Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor had declined to endorse Christie for re-election as governor.

Documents released earlier this year included a now infamous email exchange between the aides, in which Kelly told Wildstein, then an official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.”

Questions about the 11 September 2013 traffic jam remain unanswered and several critical witnesses did not testify, according to the report, which will be formally released to the public on Monday.

The US attorney’s office is still investigating the incident.