Judge won't block subpoena in NJ traffic scandal

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey judge will not stop a legislative committee from forcing a former appointee of Gov. Chris Christie to testify about a scandal involving punitive traffic lane closures.

Judge Mary Jacobson says the Assembly Transportation Committee’s 2012 authorization to issue subpoenas was broad enough that it can order to David Wildstein appear before it.

Wildstein resigned last month as Christie’s No. 2 appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The judge also ruled she did not have jurisdictions on two of Wildstein’s arguments for why he should not be forced to appear.

The legislative panel is investigating why the lanes were suddenly closed in September, causing traffic gridlock in Fort Lee. Emails and text messages revealed Wednesday that Christie’s administration may have closed the lanes to exact political retribution.