Deputy Executive Bill Baroni, Chris Christie's appointee to the Port Authority, testified on Nov 25, 2013 at a hearing held by the New Jersey Assembly transportation committee about the lane closures and he had some interesting things to say.
Now Mr. Baroni is a slippery little eel indeed, and he did his absolute best to obfuscate, confuse, muddle, complicate and befog the issues before the committee with his "testimony".
The question before the committee was "Why was a "traffic study" done at this time with no warning and without adhering to protocol".
What Baroni tried to make the hearing about was "Does Fort Lee deserve the three traffic lanes to the GWB dedicated to it.
But despite his best efforts, Baroni did say one thing that could actually be checked!
Go over the fold for more!
Baroni Testimonyu-Nov 25
At 25:57 in Mr. Baroni's testimony, the chairman of the committee makes a statement and asks a question:
"Somebody at some point in time made a phone call and said 'Close those lanes'. Who was it?"
And our friend Mr. Baroni replies
"At some point in late July members of the Port Authority police spoke to Mr. Wildstein...
Then there are many minutes of dancing and squirming and excessive detail by Mr. Baroni...
But again at 33:45 the chairman asks
"This [problem] has existed for years. Why now? Why September? What transpired.."
Baroni responds:
As I said in my opening remarks, at some point in late July members of the Port Authority police spoke to David Wildstein. So it was triggered by a conversation in late July..."
And then more unctuous blather by our dear slimy friend.
Finally at 35:00, the chairman asks another question:
"Who were these police officers that raised the issue that we ought to look at this? Names?"
And Mr. Baroni finally comes out with some actual information!
He said "Paul Nunziato, President of the Port Authority PBA, Mike DeFillipis the delegate that worked at the George Washington Bridge"
Chairman: "So the head of the Port Authority PBA raised this as an issue?"
Baroni" That is correct."
And indeed, at the time they seemed to back Mr. Baroni up!
Port Authority chief subpoenaed to testify on GWB lane closures
Now, since the email from Bridget "Time for Traffic Problems" Kelly was exposed, where in the hell does that put these two named members of the Port Authority's finest?
Were Officers Nunziato and DeFillipis helping Mr. Baroni in his crude attempt to sweep this under the rug ?
Was our slippery Mr. Baroni actually caught in a lie?
Are the Port Authority police involved in this coverup?
This is certainly getting deeper and slimier.