Lawyers cite Nixon in battle for Chris Christie’s phone

    Lawyers seeking Gov. Chris Christie’s cellphone records from the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case are using the Watergate case as justification.

    In filings late Monday opposing an attempt to block a request for the records, they wrote they’ve established the likelihood the records are relevant under a legal standard set by the Supreme Court when it forced President Richard Nixon to produce audio tapes.

    The attorneys represent indicted former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive Bill Baroni and former Christie staffer Bridget Kelly.

    They argue the Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher law firm must turn over text messages Christie sent during Baroni’s testimony to a legislative committee in 2013.

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    The law firm has said the government has the phone, but the government has denied it has it.

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