A high-ranking New Jersey Democrat wants fellow Lawmakers to consider impeaching New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie following the conviction of two of his aides in the Bridgegate lane-closing scandal.

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg said Thursday there was “considerable testimony” during the trial that indicated the Gov. knew about the 2013 George Washington Bridge traffic-snarling conspiracy. In a statement, Weinberg, who Co-Chaired a Legislative Committee that looked into the lane-closing scandal in 2014, called on Democratic Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto to consider Impeachment.

“The allegations of federal prosecutors and statements of witnesses who testified under oath cannot go unanswered and impeaching Chris Christie would bar him from further public service in this State,” the Bergen County Senator wrote.

Prosecutors said three allies of the Republican Governor closed lanes near the interstate bridge to create traffic headaches in Bergen County’s Fort Lee to punish its Democratic Mayor for not endorsing Christie for reelection.

A Jury convicted former Christie aide Bridget Kelly and ex-Port Authority Executive Bill Baroni, a Republican former State Senator, on all nine counts in the State’s biggest Political Corruption Trial in decades.

Just how much Christie knew about the scheme, and when, was a question constantly raised throughout the Trial. Several witnesses testified that, despite Christie’s repeated claims to the contrary, he was aware of the lane closures before and after they were set in motion.

The trial has been a significant drag on Christie’s already damaged reputation, driving his approval rating down to a dismal 19%.

Christie has denied any knowledge of the lane closures until weeks or months after they occurred in September 2013.

Prieto responded in a statement that the Assembly is “weighing all potential legislative activity.”

The Assembly would vote on the proceedings before a trial in the State Senate. The Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court would preside and a two-thirds vote by Senators is required for a conviction, which could lead to removal from office and a disqualification from holding Public Office in the State.

Critics complain the drawn-out impeachment process is not worth the effort as Christie’s term expires in 2018.

In the meantime, Christie faces a Criminal Misconduct complaint a retired firefighter filed last month, saying the Governor knew of the paralyzing lane-closures.

A hearing in that case is scheduled for this month.











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