Two former associates of the Christie administration appeared in federal court in Newark on Monday and pleaded not guilty to a nine-count indictment in connection with traffic problems on the George Washington Bridge in 2013. The governor’s former Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly and Bill Baroni, a former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, both said they were innocent of any wrongdoing. The two are accused of planning, executing and covering-up a scheme to slow down traffic into Fort Lee, N.J. to punish their mayor for not supporting Christie’s reelection. The charges were corroborated by David Wildstein, another former Port Authority official who pleaded guilty on Friday to fraud charges and conspiracy against civil rights.
