TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The
aide fired by Gov. Chris Christie as an investigation widened into
traffic tie-ups she orchestrated had been part of his administration
from the start and has a solid background in New Jersey politics.
Christie said Thursday that Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly had been fired "because she lied to me."
Recently
released emails show Kelly gave the go-ahead for lane closures
approaching the George Washington Bridge that snarled traffic in the New
Jersey community of Fort Lee, slowed emergency vehicles and delayed
school buses the first week of classes.
A New Jersey native and
mother of four, Kelly received a bachelor's degree in political science
from Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Md., and spent her
career in New Jersey politics.
She
began as a legislative aide to state Assemblyman David Russo, a
Republican representing all or part of four northern New Jersey
counties. In 2002, she became his chief of staff.
Kelly,
41, landed a spot with Christie in 2010 after he defeated incumbent
Democrat Jon Corzine, but she did not work on either of his
gubernatorial campaigns. She was promoted to deputy chief of staff in
April.
It was in that capacity
that she emailed David Wildstein, at the time Christie's No. 2 man at
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that operates
the bridge, to say, "time to cause some traffic problems in Fort Lee."
"Got it," replied Wildstein, who ordered the lanes closed weeks later.
Her Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as her personal email account, appeared to have been disabled Thursday.
She
was the latest casualty in a scandal that threatened to upend the start
of Christie's second term and an anticipated run for president in 2016.
The exit of four people close to the governor is remarkable in an
administration known for loyal, longtime staff members.
Christie
also cut ties to campaign manager and adviser Bill Stepien on Thursday.
The emails showed Stepien gloating over the traffic chaos that resulted
when two out of three local approach lanes to the bridge, linking New
Jersey and New York City, were shut.
The
governor's top two appointees at the Port Authority, including
Wildstein — who attended high school with Christie — have also resigned.
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