The Wall Street Journal reports, “A federal prosecutor on Tuesday [October 18] portrayed a former Port Authority executive as a Trenton insider and consummate political performer who served as an ‘attack dog’ for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. During his questioning of Bill Baroni, who is on trial for his alleged role in the George Washington Bridge lane closures, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Cortes noted multiple instances when he said the defendant had performed at the behest of Mr. Christie, including by ridiculing a U.S. senator at a 2012 hearing on toll increases.”
WNYC News reports, “Bridgegate defendant Bill Baroni underwent his second day of cross examination Tuesday, and prosecutors pummeled his defense: that he was duped by Bridgegate mastermind David Wildstein into going along with a ‘traffic study’ that was important to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. But by attempting to show that Baroni was a Christie insider, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Cortes elicited an image of a hands-on governor who is eager to settle scores with his political opponents.”