"In the New Jersey scandal known as Bridgegate, the high court ruled last year that a political-retribution scheme that involved crippling a town with traffic jams didn’t constitute federal fraud. The decision already has prompted the reversal of most charges in a high-profile insider-trading case, and could hurt prosecutors’ efforts to preserve convictions in a case that exposed ethical failures at one of the Big Four accounting firms." - Dave Michaels, The Wall Street Journal, April 12, 2021.
That U.S. Supreme Court ruling reversed the conviction of former aide to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie - Bridget Kelly.
In an earler trial she had been found to be a key player in the traffic jam on the George Washington bridge, created for political retaliation. However, amid all those legalities Christie himself had not been prosecuted. That made the Bridgegate scandal all the more high-profile. There was also sympathy with Kelly as a mother. It was difficult to buy in that she had orchestrated the plan without input from above. What political aide has that kind of authority?
SCOTUS had reviewed whether unsavory behavior constituted criminal fraud. What was determined had been this: Federal criminal fraud can only be ruled when the behavior is intended to obtain funds or material goods in a underhanded manner.
As the legalities currently work their way through the legal system, the whole matter of the 2013 Bridgegate has been resurrected to bite Christie in the butt. His current political comeback can be derailed. For example, on "This Week" he attacked U.S. Joe Biden's infrastructure initiative.
In response, reports Keith Griffith at the Daily Mail:
"Chris Christie has accused President Joe Biden of 'lying' about the contents of a massive infrastructure spending proposal -- but quickly faced questions about his own credentials on infrastructure from critics who recalled his infamous 'Bridgegate' scandal."
The social network Twitter went wild with pushback on Christie. Again, he may have become radioactive. This is at a time when the GOP is struggling with its post-Trump Administration identity. Also, with the Democrats in control of the White House and the U.S. House, myriad constituencies are focusing on making friends and influencing the liberals. In itself, that could leave a yesterday politico like Christie out of 2021 looping. The media outlets could begin ignoring him. The focus will be the new GOP players.
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