Dustin Racioppi , State House Bureau, @dracioppiPublished 6:59 p.m. ET Feb. 10, 2017 | Updated 10:42 a.m. ET Feb. 11, 2017
Bill Brennan, a declared candidate for governor who filed a complaint alleging Gov. Chris Christie committed a crime during the George Washington Bridge lane closures, has been raising money for his bid without having filed the necessary paperwork with the state, according to records.
Brennan appears to be one of at least two candidates in the race who are soliciting donations without the legal papers in place to do so.
Bergen County Superior Court Judge Bonnie Mizdol announced on Friday that no special prosecutor would be appointed to investigate the official misconduct complaint lodged by a private citizen against New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in relation to Bridgegate.
Bill Brennan, the citizen who requested the special prosecutor, said that one was needed due to the recusal of both Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal and US Attorney Chris Porrino on the case. Both men were appointed by Christie. Now, the first assistant prosecutor in Bergen County and the first assistant attorney general will investigate the complaint.
Fort Lee NJ, as the Ridgewood blog reported yesterday local activist Bill Brennan sued Christie in municipal court, alleging official misconduct related to the traffic jam.
Christie hired the New York Law Firm of Alston and Bird to defend him tomorrow. The waited until after the 6 O’Clock News aired to serve and file eight pages of evidence proving that they don’t understand NJ practice as it pertains to Probable Cause .
The judge ruled to advance the Bill Brennan’s complaint to the next level, rejecting the attempts by Christie’s lawyers to improperly interject themselves at this stage. On Facebook Brennan’s supporters claim,”
Today, the cause of justice was advanced a single notch…thanks to Bill Brennan!”
The criminal case complaint will now be given to the Bergen County prosecutor Gurbir Grewal to consider for indictment. Grewal a Democrat was appointed by Christie ,has some calling for him to recuse given his prior relationship as a Christie appointee. It is felt by Brennan supporters there is need a genuinely impartial special prosecutor to pick this up, indict, try and convict Governor Christie for official misconduct.
