Chris Christie apologizes for bridge scandal Chris Christie Press Conference on Aide VIDEO Chris Christie Press Conference on Aide VIDEO Bridge Scandal New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Chris Christie Press Conference on Aide VIDEO New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Chris Christie Press Conference on Aide New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie schedules news conference for Thursday The governor was set to answer questions at the Statehouse at 11 a.m., just weeks after he announced the resignation of a top appointee at the center of the controversy. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will hold a press conference on Thursday to discuss the scandal over bridge traffic in northern New Jersey. An unusually contrite Gov. Christie emerged Tuesday to offer an apology for the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal — and to fire a top aide. "I come out here to today to apologize to the people of New Jersey," said Christie. RELATED: CHRISTIE'S WATERLOO "I apologize to the people of Fort Lee. I am embarrassed and humiliated by the conduct of some of the people on my team." The governor then announced the immediate dismissal of Bridget Anne Kelly, the top aide linked directly to the bridge lane closures. RELATED: 'WORST EXAMPLE OF PETTY POLITICAL VENDETTA': SOKOLICH ON CHRISTIE GW BRIDGE CLOSINGS Bill Bramhall/New York Daily News "I terminated her employment because she lied to me," Christie said bluntly. A media horde descended on the Statehouse in Trenton for Christie's first public appearance since the scandal was linked to his administration. RELATED: PRESIDENT CHRISTIE? CROSSING THAT BRIDGE The first reporters and camera crews arrived at 7 a.m., and the room was soon packed to capacity. Just moments before the press briefing was slated the start, sources told the New York Times the office of the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, a post previously filled by Christie, would open an inquiry into the lane closures. WASHINGTON -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) denied any involvement in a political payback scheme carried out by some of his top aides on Wednesday, saying the whole thing was "inappropriate and unsanctioned." "What I've seen today for the first time is unacceptable," Christie said in a statement. "I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge." "One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it because the people of New Jersey deserve better. This behavior is not representative of me or my administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions," he added. The emails released Wednesday showed that Christie's deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, deliberately plotted to wreak havoc on Fort Lee, N.J., once it became clear that the borough's mayor, Democrat Mark Sokolich, wasn't going to publicly back Christie in his reelection bid. "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly wrote in an email on Aug. 13. "Got it," replied David Wildstein, who was then one of Christie's top officials at the Port Authority, which is run jointly by New York and New Jersey. Wildstein resigned last month. Sure enough, a month later, they caused those traffic problems. On Sept. 9, the first day of school in Fort Lee, drivers found that two of the three access lanes to the George Washington Bridge -- the busiest bridge in the United States -- were closed, backing traffic up onto local roads and delaying emergency and police vehicles. The emails pose a considerable problem for Christie, because they contradict what he has been telling the media for weeks. During a Dec. 13 press conference, Christie stood by his administration's explanations that the lanes were closed as part of a traffic study. He argued that Wildstein and Bill Baroni -- who was deputy executive director of the Port Authority before resigning last month -- erred in not clearing the traffic study with the head of the Port Authority, but there had been no malicious intent or political payback involved. "I can only tell you what Sen. Baroni has said publicly and to everybody in this office, which is they believed the traffic study was necessary and that they ordered it, but the way they did it was mistaken and they didn't follow protocols," he said at the time. Christie hunkered down Wednesday when news of the emails broke, canceling a scheduled event in Ocean County. The emails were released after the New Jersey legislature subpoenaed Wildstein's emails. "Mr. Wildstein has repeatedly been painted as the fall guy in this controversy but based on the documents released today, clearly that isn't so," Assembly Deputy Speaker and Transportation Committee Chair John Wisniewski (D) said in a statement. "This is all the more reason why his appearance at tomorrow's transportation committee hearing is necessary."

• published: 09 Jan 2014
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