Fort Lee's Legal Tab In GWB Lane Closures Scandal Continues To Grow
FORT LEE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Fort Lee, New Jersey has now spent more than $200,000 in legal fees related to investigations into the 2013 lane closings at the George Washington Bridge.
The town was the subject of an infamous email from Gov. Chris Christie's former deputy chief of staff that said it was "time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.''
The four-day closures, which became known as "Bridgegate," caused massive gridlock and eventually led to several resignations and firings.
Last week, Fort Lee officials approved an additional $15,000 for a special counsel, The Record reported. The additional spending brings the total amount for legal services related to the lane closures to $225,000.
The U.S. attorney's office is investigating the closures, and a state legislative committee also has conducted a probe.
A local report says the federal investigation appears to be coming to a head and indictments could be announced next week.
The number of new subpoenas in the case seems to be diminishing and The New York Times' Kate Zernike told WCBS 880 this week that investigators seem to be returning to their earlier interview subjects to firm up details.
Gov. Christie has denied any advance knowledge of the closures.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
