Bill Baroni, a former top aide in the Christie administration who was convicted for his part in the Bridgegate scandal, has asked to begin serving his sentence for participating in the petty political payback scheme.
Baroni’s decision comes after a federal appeals court largely upheld the convictions of both Baroni and fellow defendant Bridget Anne Kelly, according to NJ.com.
In a filing, Baroni asked that his case be returned to federal District Court so he can be re-sentenced and start serving his time. Kelly, meanwhile, is continuing to appeal her convictions.
Baroni, who was originally ordered to serve 24 months in prison, must be re-sentenced because the appeals court dismissed the part of the case against Baroni dealing with alleged civil rights violations against Kelly and Baroni.
Both Baroni and Kelly have been free on bail since their November 2016 conviction for orchestrating massive traffic tie-ups on the George Washington Bridge as political payback against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing their boss, former Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Christie, who was never charged in connection with the scheme, has denied any involvement. Still, publicity about the case was enough to sink Christie’s presidential ambitions.
In their appeal of her conviction, Kelly’s attorneys argue that allowing her conviction for using her post to punish a political rival and inconvenience thousands of state motorists would open the door for future politically motivated prosecutions, according to NJ.com
Quote of the Day: “The leagues should understand this better than anybody: When you lose, you lose. That ‘L’ is up there on the board,” — Former Gov. Chris Christie, on professional sports leagues now trying to get a cut of sports gambling revenue after losing their fight against legalizing betting.
Former Christie Aide Throws in the Towel on Bridgegate, While Another Continues Fighting
After a federal appellate court in November reversed some of the charges against them in the Bridgegate scandal but left their convictions largely intact, two former aides to former Gov. Chris Christie have split over what’s next in the high-profile corruption drama.
NJ.com Read more
Christie to States: Don’t Let Federal Government Take Control of Sports Betting
Chris Christie wants lawmakers across the country to resist a bill that would give the federal government control over regulating sports betting.
Associated Press Read more
Twice as Many Moved Out of New Jersey in 2018 Than Moved In
Twice as many people moved out of New Jersey in 2018 as moved in. The migration, the largest of any state, has dropped the Garden State’s population to pre-2013 levels.
The Record Read more
Editorial: Exodus From New Jersey Continues
New Jerseyans keep moving out of state in far greater numbers than those moving in. Once again, we were number one in 2018 in out-migration in the annual United Van Lines National Movers Study.
Asbury Park Press Read more
Gateway Tunnel Is a Huge Issue for New Jersey. Now that House Dems Have Power, They’re Making It a Top Priority.
A long-sought infrastructure bill will be a priority of the new House Democratic majority, and funding for the Gateway Tunnel will be part of it, key lawmakers told NJ Advance Media.
NJ.com Read more
Civil Rights Groups Push Gov. Murphy to Sign Bill for Independent Investigations of Police-Involved Fatalities
New Jersey civil rights groups are pushing Gov. Phil Murphy to sign a bill that would require the state attorney general to take over from local authorities any investigation of a death in which local police were involved.
Inquirer Read more
Cory Booker’s Former Classmate is Ready to Bet $10M on Jersey Senator’s Run for the White House
A San Francisco lawyer, civil rights activist and former Stanford University classmate of U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is setting up a super political action committee and plans to raise at least $10 million to support the New Jersey Democrat if he runs for president.
NJ.com Read more
‘He’ll Make a Good President, But He’s Not Going to Help Us.’ What Newark Really Thinks of Cory Booker
It’s no secret. Sen. Cory Booker is thinking about running for president, having already visited 24 states during midterm elections, including stops that would be key in early primaries.
NJ.com Read more
Moran: Booker for President? First, Two Big Hurdles
Sen. Cory Booker is running for president, even if it’s not official yet. The visits to Iowa and New Hampshire are a dead giveaway.
NJ.com Read more
‘Surreal’ First Day for Congressman Jeff Van Drew
On his first day in Congress, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey’s second district got the keys to his new office in the Cannon Building, started learning the elaborate tunnel route to the nearby Capitol Building, made a dramatic statement of independence on the House floor and spent an exhausting 14 hours at work.
Press of Atlantic City Read more
New Jersey Gets Ready for Legal Weed. No Stoner Ads.
In California, there are billboards touting “Knock-Out Brownies”—a marijuana-infused treat.
Inquirer Read more
Another NJ College Jumps Into the Marijuana Industry as Legal Weed Looms
As New Jersey inches toward legalizing recreational use of marijuana, a state university has launched a group aimed at helping lawmakers and towns grapple with the implications.
NJ.com Read more
What’s the Deal With NJ legal Weed and the $15 Minimum Wage?
New Jersey Democrats’ unfinished business from 2018—raising the minimum wage and legalizing marijuana for recreational use—tops the list of priorities in the new year, which could also feature a politically explosive debate over taxes and public worker benefit rollbacks.
Asbury Park Press Read more
NJ Transit Picks Former LIRR Head as Operations Chief
The much-maligned New Jersey Transit is trying to reverse its fortunes, and the latest step is the hiring of a new head of rail operations, the agency announced Friday.
ROI-NJ Read more
Progress Seen in Test of Paper Trail Voting Machines
New Jersey’s first pilot tests of voting machines that provide a way to verify results proved successful in the last election, and now some officials are looking forward to expanding testing later. Typically, elections with state Assembly seats topping the ticket—like this coming fall—have low turnouts and so make this an ideal time to roll out new machines.
NJSpotlight Read more
Jim McGreevey’s Career in Jersey City May End Monday
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey’s nearly six-year tenure as the head of Jersey City’s prisoner re-entry program may come to an end as soon as Monday, with McGreevey scheduled to face a hostile board of directors that may determine his fate.
NJ.com Read more
Businesses Can Only Hope 2019 Will Not Bring Additional Tax Hikes
Tom Bracken, the head of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, which is an organization that speaks for the state’s business community, said it’s time for Gov. Phil Murphy to start doing more for Bracken’s constituents.
ROI-NJ Read more
Who Stands to Gain From NJ Opportunity Zones
New Jersey tops the nation for potential developments in so-called Opportunity Zones. Of the 8,000 such locations across the country, created under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the state has 169. The program offers tax breaks to those who invest, build, and create jobs in low-income and economically distressed areas.
NJTV News Read more
In Trenton This Year, the Mayor Sees Dollar Signs
It’s Thursday of the recent holiday-shortened week. It can be a lame-duck few days in many professions, the weekdays between Christmas and New Year’s, especially in politics and government.
NJ.com Read more
Coast Guard Working Around Ethics Rules So Enlistees Can Accept Help During Shutdown
As the partial government shutdown continues, the Coast Guard training facility is asking organizations collecting goods for employees and enlistees working without pay to open their drive up to all federal workers, so as to get around ethics rules that block individuals from accepting more than $20 worth of goods.
Press of Atlantic City Read more
Transgender Birth Certificates Coming to NJ in February
Transgender birth certificates will be available in New Jersey starting in February.
NJ101.5 Read more
Murphy-Aligned Group, Citing State Law, Defends Decision Not to Disclose Donors
A political organization that promotes Gov. Phil Murphy’s agenda is defending its decision to keep its donors secret, saying it is exempt from a state law that requires similar groups to disclose their donors because less than half of what it spent in 2018 was on advocating specific policy proposals.
Politico Read more
Murphy: Group Run by My Campaign Advisers Should Disclose Its Donors
Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday a political organization that’s promoting his agenda should reconsider its decision to keep its donors secret.
Politico Read more
Council Fires Two, Mayor Calls the Cops at Chaotic Englewood Cliffs Meeting
A raucous, nearly five-hour meeting, punctuated by a police response and multiple firings, started off the new year for a Borough Council that has been riven by political tensions for months.
Associated Press Read more
Toms River GOP Council Members Give Job to Lacey Committeeman; Democrats Cry Foul
The Township Council’s Republican majority has approved the appointment of a longtime Lacey Township committeeman to the post of council secretary, a job the council’s two Democrats say is a “blatantly obvious patronage position.”
Asbury Park Press Read more
Free Speech? NJ Politician Wants to Make His Lying Critics Pay the Price
The First Amendment guarantees the right to free speech and to petition the government.
NJ101.5 Read more
Hoboken Council Questions Why Ex-City Flack Is Still on Payroll
Hoboken’s old spokesperson—who is now Trenton’s new spokesperson—is still on the city’s payroll weeks after he reportedly resigned.
NJ.com Read more
Chae Sworn In as First Asian-American on Dumont Borough Council
Standing by his mother and two daughters, Keunsoo “Jimmy” Chae was sworn in Saturday to the Borough Council, becoming the first Korean-American and Asian-American to serve in the post in Dumont.
The Record Read more
Prospect Park Swears In Mayor, Council Members and Perhaps the Youngest Town Manager in NJ
The borough seated a governing body reflective of its diverse population on Saturday, welcoming back the mayor and two council members for new terms and swearing in a borough administrator believed to be making history.
The Record Read more
Ortiz to Lead Bergen Freeholders
germaine ortiz is expected to serve as Bergen County freeholder chair when the board reorganizes next week, putting her in a slightly more visible post as she seeks re-election this fall.
New Jersey Globe Read more
