Christie Aide Who Testified In Bridgegate Hearings Resigns
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The top aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose text messages became an issue during legislative hearings on the Bridgegate scandal, is stepping down.
Christie announced Wednesday that chief of staff Regina Egea will be replaced by Amy Cradic, Christie's deputy chief of staff for policy.
Egea was the head of Christie's unit overseeing authorities, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, when the George Washington Bridge's lanes were closed in September 2013.
Egea told lawmakers probing the closure in 2014 that she was forwarded an email from Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority, ordering that the lanes be reopened and suggesting that their closure may have broken the law.
Egea said the authority's deputy director, Christie appointee Bill Baroni, called her, explained the situation and then forwarded the email from Foye.
Egea testified that during a December legislative hearing about the lane closures -- like others in the administration, she called them a "realignment" -- she texted Christie about testimony from Port Authority officials, including complimenting the professionalism of one of them.
But she said she deleted the messages, and said she was inconsistent about which messages she saved and which she did not.
Egea was not charged with wrongdoing.
Christie said Egea was ``deeply valued'' and an ``essential'' part of his administration.
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