Wednesday, January 4, 2017

What did Donald Trump do today?

He hired a key figure in the Bridgegate scandal as his White House Political Director.

In September 2013, two lanes of the George Washington Bridge connecting New York City and northern New Jersey were ordered closed by members of Gov. Chris Christie's office as an act of political retribution against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, who had declined to endorse Christie. So far, four people have been convicted of crimes related to the matter. 

Bill Stepien, Christie's campaign manager, was implicated by several people involved, including convicted conspirator David Wildstein. Stepien was romantically involved with another convicted conspirator, Bridget Anne Kelly. Christie himself withdrew Stepien's nomination for Chair of the NJ Republican state party. Stepien invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in response to subpoenas related to the criminal investigation.

During the campaign, Trump (among others) savaged Christie over the bridge scandal, citing the economic damage done.

Why should a normal person care about this?

  • Political operatives associated with political dirty tricks and criminal conspiracies probably shouldn't be rewarded with promotions to the White House.
  • Voters may have believed Donald Trump when he said he was opposed to this kind of thing.