Politico: Emails Appear to Show Christie Knew About Political Activities of Office

Emails released as part of a defense filing in the Bridgegate case appear to show New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was made aware that a taxpayer-funded office that was part of his administration was involved in political activities, Politico reports.

The emails show then-Christie aide Bill Stepien working to put together meetings between the Republican Christie and the mayors of Belleville and Orange, both Democrats. The move was made at the request of Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, one of Christie's main Democratic allies in the state.

"IGA has already put the mayor of Belleville in the end zone, but if this helps with Joe D, then I'm all for it," Stepien writes to Christie in an email dated April 23, 2013.

The initials IGA are a reference to the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Stepien headed the IGA until he became the campaign manager for Christie's re-election later the same month as the email was sent.

Politico called the emails significant because they seem to show Christie being told that a publicly funded office under his control was involved in political activity. A commission appointed by Christie to look into the Bridgegate scandal said that did not happen until after Bridget Kelly took over the IGA after Stepien left.

The emails were part of a defense filing by Bill Baroni, who is part of a federal class action lawsuit related to the lane closure scandal.

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