The Latest: Aide says Christie talked to Cuomo about bridge

NEWARK, N.J. – The Latest on the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial (all times local):

2:35 p.m.

A former aide to Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says the governor said he told New York’s Democratic governor to have the head of a bistate agency that controls the George Washington Bridge back off after testifying to lawmakers investigating lane closures on the bridge.

Prosecutors say the lanes were closed to create traffic headaches for a Democratic mayor who didn’t support Christie.

Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye testified in December 2013 the lane closures were ordered by self-described plot mastermind David Wildstein, who has pleaded guilty. Foye testified he was unaware of any traffic study at the time.

Ex-Christie aide Bridget Kelly testified Monday in her criminal trial Christie said days later he had told New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH’-moh) to tell Foye to back off. A Cuomo spokesman hasn’t commented.

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11:50 a.m.

A former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says she twice told the governor about the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge as they were occurring in September 2013.

Bridget Kelly testified Monday that she told the Republican governor about the traffic problems in Fort Lee. She says she also told him a Democratic mayor was complaining about it.

She says Christie told her to let David Wildstein handle it.

Christie has denied any knowledge of the lane closures and says anything to the contrary is untrue. Self-described mastermind David Wildstein and prosecutors say it was a political revenge plot against the Fort Lee mayor.

Kelly testified Friday that Christie signed off on what she maintains was described to her as a traffic study. Christie’s spokesman denies that.

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1 a.m.

The former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who prosecutors say sent the “time for some traffic problems” email that started the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal is due back on the witness stand.

Federal prosecutors are expected to begin cross-examining Bridget Kelly on Monday.

She was Christie’s deputy chief of staff and is on trial along with a former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive whom prosecutors say launched the plot as revenge against a Democratic mayor who wouldn’t endorse Christie.

Kelly testified Friday that the Republican governor approved of a traffic study on the bridge. But prosecutors claim the study was actually a cover story for a political payback scheme designed to cause traffic jams.

Christie has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.