Gov. Chris Christie. | AP Photo 'Saddened' Christie maintains personal innocence after Bridgegate convictions

Following the conviction of two former allies on all counts for their involvement in the Bridgegate scandal, Gov. Chris Christie released a statement maintaining his own innocence in the matter.

In the statement, Christie said, “Like so many people in New Jersey, I’m saddened by this case and I’m saddened about the choices made by Bill Baroni, Bridget Kelly and David Wildstein. Today’s verdict does not change this for me.


“But let me be clear once again, I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments, and had no role in authorizing them. No believable evidence was presented to contradict that fact. Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue."

Christie was cast in a harsh light during the trial of his former deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly and former state senator Bill Baroni, who the governor appointed to a powerful post at the Port Authority, on charges related to a manufactured traffic jam at the George Washington Bridge that was part of a political revenge scheme.

The defendants argued that they were unaware of the political aspects of the lane closures — organized in 2013 to punish a Democratic mayor who declined to endorse Christie's re-election bid — and that they were being unfairly blamed for the incident.

Several witnesses at the trial gave testimony about what and when Christie knew about the incident that clashed with the governor's public version of events.

The full statement from Christie is below:

“On January 9, 2014, I apologized to the people of New Jersey for the conduct exhibited by some members of my Administration who showed a lack of respect for the appropriate role of government and for the people we serve. Those people were terminated by me and today, the jury affirms that decision by also holding them responsible for their own conduct.

“Like so many people in New Jersey, I’m saddened by this case and I’m saddened about the choices made by Bill Baroni, Bridget Kelly and David Wildstein. Today’s verdict does not change this for me.

“But let me be clear once again, I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments, and had no role in authorizing them. No believable evidence was presented to contradict that fact. Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue."

“As a former federal prosecutor, I have respected these proceedings and refused to comment on the daily testimony from the trial. I will set the record straight in the coming days regarding the lies that were told by the media and in the courtroom.”

