Chris Christie Bridgegate lawyer Craig Carpenito named interim U.S. attorney for N.J.

A Bridgegate criminal defense lawyer for Gov. Chris Christie has been appointed interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey – the second lawyer for Christie who’s landed a top federal job under the Trump administration.

Craig Carpenito’s appointment by Attorney General Jeff Sessions takes effect Thursday. Carpenito defended Christie from a citizen’s complaint accusing him of official misconduct in connection with the Bridgegate scandal.

More: Guess who pays for Chris Christie’s personal lawyer?

More: Fishman resigns as U.S. attorney for N.J.

Carpenito and 16 other interim choices announced by Sessions on Wednesday also could potentially receive a formal nomination by President Donald Trump to fulltime four-year terms in the jobs. Those nominations would be subject to confirmation by the Senate. Trump has 120 days to submit nominations for the permanent positions.

Trump last year chose Christopher Wray, another lawyer for Christie, to serve as FBI director not long after James Comey was fired on May 9, 2017. Wray was confirmed by the Senate on Aug. 1.

“I commend Attorney General Sessions for his selection of Craig Carpenito to be New Jersey's next United States Attorney,’’ Christie said in a statement. “Craig is an outstanding lawyer and the type of decisive leader the office really needs. I am confident he will be a U.S. Attorney that everyone in New Jersey will be proud of in the years ahead.”

A winter storm is approaching, so check out the video at the top of the page showing ice rescue drills. The story continues below underneath the photo gallery.

As acting U.S. Attorney – a job Christie held between 2002 and 2008 -- Carpenito will be responsible for overseeing all criminal prosecutions and the litigation of all civil matters in New Jersey in which the federal government has an interest. He’ll supervise a staff of approximately 135 attorneys and 110 support personnel in Newark, Camden, and Trenton.

Carpenito currently serves as a partner at Alston & Bird LLP, where he is a co-chairman of the firm’s Litigation and Trial Practice Group and its Government and Internal Investigations Team. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey from 2005 to 2008, when Christie headed the office.

Carpenito replaces Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick, who will resume his previous role as first assistant attorney.

More: Long Branch shooting: What we know

More: Long Branch shooting: Bill that ups punishment for letting kids get guns stalled

Carpenito represented Christie in a case in Bergen County municipal and county court that sought to compel the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate whether the governor committed official misconduct in the Bridgegate scandal.

Wray's law firm, before his nomination by Trump, collected $2.1 million from New Jersey taxpayers on Bridgegate defense work for Christie starting in 2014. Christie was not charged.

Bob Jordan bjordan@gannnettnj.com