UPDATE: Defendant says she told Christie of lane study

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s former deputy chief of staff says she told him about plans for a traffic study on the George Washington Bridge a month before they began in 2013.

Bridget Kelly is testifying Friday in her own defense while on trial on charges that she helped plot bridge lane closings for political revenge against a Democratic mayor who wouldn’t endorse the Republican governor.

She said she told Christie about a traffic study but did not testify that she told him it was actually to get back at the Fort Lee mayor as prosecutors allege.

Kelly is on trial along with another former Christie ally whom prosecutors say launched the bridge closings as revenge against a mayor who wouldn’t endorse Christie.

After speaking to Christie, she sent an email to David Wildstein saying it was “time for some traffic problems.” Wildstein, the self-described mastermind of the plot, has pleaded guilty in the case.

Christie has denied he had any knowledge about the lane closures, and hasn’t been charged.

One of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s top political advisers says he told him that two of his staffers knew about the George Washington Bridge lane closings before the governor said no one in his administration knew.

Mike DuHaime testified Friday that he told Christie before a December 2013 news conference that his then-deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, and campaign manager, Bill Stepien, knew about the lane closures.

Christie has denied he had any knowledge about the lane closures, and hasn’t been charged. A spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.