Feds reject call for new trial in Bridgegate, says 'evidence overwhelming'

NEWARK--Federal prosecutors in the high-profile Bridgegate case reject defense claims that improper jury instructions led to the convictions of the two former members of Gov. Chris Christie's inner circle, asking a judge to deny a request for a new trial.

In a late night filing, the U.S. Attorney's office said Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly lied, and then tried to cover-up those lies, in a scheme of political retaliation when they helped shut down several local tolls lanes at the George Washington Bridge to deliberately cause massive traffic jams in Fort Lee just prior to Christie's re-election.

In rejecting calls for a new trial, they said the defense was seeking to relitigate the court's earlier decisions about the charges in the case.

"The evidence presented at trial proved beyond a reasonable doubt that defendants committed the offenses charged in the Indictment," prosecutors declared.

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