In his cringe-worthy speech at the Republican National Convention, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) created a Kangaroo Court of sorts, repeatedly asking his rabid audience, “ Guilty or not guilty? ” Nearly four months later, with two of the governor’s top aides on trial, we now have an answer to that question.

A jury has found two of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s former allies guilty on all counts for their roles in the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal, capping a case that roiled state politics and captured national attention. Christie’s ex-deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, and his former top Port Authority official, Bill Baroni, had faced nine counts of conspiracy and fraud stemming from the scheme to block access to the George Washington Bridge as a means to punish Democratic Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Christie’s re-election bid.

Close video Jury finds former Christie aides guilty in Bridgegate trial Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni, former aides of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, were found guilty on all counts by a jury in the Bridgegate trial. Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni, former aides of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, were found guilty on all counts by a jury in the Bridgegate trial. share tweet email Embed

I can appreciate why some may see these developments as less relevant now than they used to be. After all, Christie is no longer a presidential contender or under consideration for the Republicans’ vice presidential nomination, and the now-convicted aides left their government posts years ago.But don’t be too quick to dismiss the significance of the jury’s findings. This is the same trial, for example, in which both the defense attorneys and the prosecutors said Christie knew about the abuse-of-power conspiracy, despite his claims to the contrary. If accurate, the possibility of the governor facing impeachment is very real.But even more important still in the short-term is the fact regular readers probably know : Christie is still positioned to serve as chairman of Donald Trump’s transition team – if the Republican candidate wins the presidential race next week.Christie’s top responsibility as transition team chair? Helping put together a staff for the president-elect.The New Jersey governor has a variety of flaws and faults as a public official, but after today, it seems his judgment when it comes to staffing is near the top of the list. In a sane political environment, the Trump campaign would have no choice but to replace Christie with someone who isn’t tarnished by a scandal as serious as “Bridgegate.”