As federal bridge probe continues, N.J. panel to hear from one more witness

The aide to Gov. Chris Christie who oversees the New York/New Jersey Port Authority has been subpoenaed to testify today Thursday before the New Jersey legislative committee investigating the George Washington Bridge scandal.

The hearing occurs as a federal criminal investigation into the closings continues.

Committee members want to know what Regina Egea knew about last September’s lane closures on the bridge and whether she participated in a cover-up.

Egea will be the committee’s last witness for a while, said Assemblyman John Wisniewski, co-chairman of the committee.

“There are a number of other people that the committee would like to hear from,” he said. “However, we¹re also being very careful not to impede on any territory that might be currently undertaken by the U.S. attorney.”

Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, is not ruling out subpoenaing additional witnesses in the future and won’t say how long it might take for the committee to conclude its investigation.

He says what lawmakers have learned during the hearings will help them develop legislation to reform the Port Authority.

“I also think that what we’ve learned is that there is a need for reforms within the office of the governor,” he said. “Don’t forget that the abuse of power that we’re investigating started in the office of the governor directed at what was supposed to be or in theory is an independent agency.”

The hearings stem from the four-day closing of access lanes to the bridge, the busiest in the world, apparently as political payback.