E-mails suggest Christie aides jammed traffic as political revenge

The identities of the two people exchanging text messages is not shown in the redacted documents, which were obtained by The Washington Post and other news organizations Wednesday morning.

The disclosures raise legal questions about whether a government agency was directed to take action inciting a public nuisance for a political purpose. Witnesses at the time described the traffic as some of the area’s worst since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Emergency responders were delayed in attending to medical emergencies, including the cardiac arrest of a 91-year-old woman who later died, the Bergen Record reported.

Sokolich reacted angrily to Wednesday’s disclosures, telling the Record: “How dare you schedule a man-made traffic disaster in my community? It’s the example of the pettiest and most venomous side of politics.”

Buono said in an interview that the incident follows a pattern of political strong-arming from the Christie camp and warrants a federal investigation.

“He is the worst example of bully and boss,” Buono said. “And this string of e-mails clearly exposes a web of deceit, subterfuge and arrogance leading straight to Chris Christie.”

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.) was pleased at the scandal engulfing Christie. “I’m so happy that it’s unfolding slowly, like an onion opening up,” he said, adding, “I think that the worst is yet to come.”

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