Ex-Christie associates guilty in New Jersey 'Bridgegate' scandalNEW YORK (Reuters) - Two former associates of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie were convicted on Friday for their roles in the “Bridgegate” lane closure scandal, following a six-week trial that served to further tarnish the Republican’s damaged reputation. Bridget Kelly, the governor’s former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, were found guilty in Newark federal court on all counts. They were convicted of fraud, conspiracy and depriving the residents of Fort Lee, New Jersey, of their civil rights. Christie, who is in charge of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s transition team, has not been criminally charged, but the scandal has torpedoed what was once seen as a promising political career. Christie on Friday again denied having had any advance knowledge of the scheme to choke traffic heading for the busy George Washington Bridge, which links New Jersey and Manhattan.  “I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments, and had no role in authorizing them,” Christie said in a statement following the verdict. “Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue.” The scandal has dogged Christie, once seen as a potential presidential nominee before his campaign for the White House failed this year. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta said on Friday Trump should ask Christie to resign as head of his transition team. Legal experts have said it is unlikely Christie would face any criminal consequences based on the trial testimony.  Baroni and Kelly were accused of shutting down access lanes to the bridge in September 2013 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, creating a massive days-long traffic jam to punish the town’s mayor, Mark Sokolich, a Democrat, for declining to endorse Christie’s reelection campaign. The Port Authority, which runs the bridge, says it is the world’s busiest, carrying 102 million vehicles a year on the I-95 interstate highway, a major east coast traffic artery. Lawyers for Kelly and Baroni vowed to appeal. “This is not over,” Kelly’s lawyer Michael Critchley said outside the courthouse, with his arm around his weeping client. He said the judge had erred during jury instructions. Defense lawyers were furious when U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton told jurors in response to a question they could convict Kelly and Baroni on conspiracy even if the act itself was not “intentionally punitive toward Mayor Sokolich.” Wigenton said prosecutors did not have to prove motive, even though their case had revolved around the political retribution. “By answering the way you’re answering, you’re directing a verdict of guilty,” an angry Critchley told Wigenton on Tuesday. Baroni’s lawyer, Michael Baldassare, told reporters the case was a “disgrace” and said the conviction would be overturned. “I am innocent of these charges,” a smiling Baroni said. Kelly and Baroni’s co-conspirator, former Port Authority official and confessed mastermind David Wildstein, had earlier pleaded guilty and appeared as the government’s star witness, detailing how the three schemed to pay back Sokolich. But Wildstein also implicated Christie, saying he and Baroni discussed the lane closures with the governor while they were ongoing. Christie, Wildstein testified, laughed at the notion that Sokolich was frustrated by the traffic. At the time, Christie believed that securing the backing of Democratic officials would burnish his national reputation, according to trial testimony. Kelly, who took the stand in her defense, testified she had discussed the lane closures with Christie a month beforehand, though she said she thought at the time they were part of a legitimate traffic study. “I take no pleasure in this verdict,” said U.S. Attorney of New Jersey Paul Fishman, a successor of Christie in that position. Fishman, whose office prosecuted the case, said he was saddened by the conduct of top government officials. Kelly and Baroni’s lawyers argued that Wildstein had orchestrated the plot himself and told them he was conducting a traffic study. Wildstein said on the stand the three of them knew all along that the study was a bogus cover story. Prosecutors showed jurors numerous exchanges that Kelly and Baroni each had with Wildstein, who operated as liaison between Baroni at the Port Authority and Kelly in the governor’s office. Those included Kelly’s now-infamous email to Wildstein that prosecutors said launched the scheme, in which she wrote, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” Kelly and Baroni are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 21. Each faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the most serious charge of fraud, though it is unlikely they would receive such a lengthy term. politicsNews
associates guilty new jersey scandalnew york reuters two former associates new jersey governor chris christie convicted friday roles bridgegate lane closure scandal following trial served tarnish republican damaged reputation bridge kelly governor former deputy chief staff bill baron former deputy executive director port authority new york new jersey found guilty newark federal court counts they convicted fraud conspiracy depriving residents fort lee new jersey civil rights christie charge republican presidential candidate donald trump transition team criminally charged scandal torpedoed seen promising political career christie friday denied advance knowledge scheme choke traffic heading busy george washington bridge links new jersey manhattan i knowledge prior lane realignment role authorizing christie said statement following verdict anything said contrary past six weeks court simply the scandal dogged christie seen potential presidential nominee campaign white house failed year democratic presidential nominee hillary clinton campaign chairman john modesta said friday trump ask christie resign head transition team legal experts said unlikely christie would face criminal consequences based trial testimony baron kelly accused shutting access lanes bridge september fort lee new jersey creating massive traffic jam punish town mayor mark sokolich democrat declining endorse christie reelection campaign the port authority runs bridge says world busiest carrying million vehicles year interstate highway major east coast traffic artery lawyers kelly baron vowed appeal this kelly lawyer michael critchley said outside courthouse arm around weeping client he said judge erred jury instructions defense lawyers furious district judge susan wigenton told jurors response question could convict kelly baron conspiracy even act intentionally punitive toward mayor wigenton said prosecutors prove motive even though case revolved around political retribution by answering way answering directing verdict guilty angry critchley told wigenton tuesday baron lawyer michael baldassare told reporters case disgrace said conviction would overturned i innocent charges smiling baron said kelly baron former port authority official confessed mastermind david wildstein earlier pleaded guilty appeared government star witness detailing three scheme pay back sokolich but wildstein also implicated christie saying baron discussed lane closures governor ongoing christie wildstein testified laughed notion sokolich frustrated traffic at time christie believed securing backing democratic officials would furnish national reputation according trial testimony kelly took stand defense testified discussed lane closures christie month beforehand though said thought time part legitimate traffic study i take pleasure verdict said attorney new jersey paul freshman successor christie position freshman whose office prosecuted case said saddened conduct top government officials kelly baron lawyers argued wildstein orchestrated plot told conducting traffic study wildstein said stand three knew along study bogus cover story prosecutors showed jurors numerous exchanges kelly baron wildstein operated liaison baron port authority kelly governor office those included kelly email wildstein prosecutors said launched scheme wrote time traffic problems fort kelly baron scheduled sentenced each faces maximum sentence years prison serious charge fraud though unlikely would receive lengthy term politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Ex-Christie associates guilty in New Jersey 'Bridgegate' scandalNEW YORK (Reuters) - Two former associates of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie were convicted on Friday for their roles in the “Bridgegate” lane closure scandal, following a six-week trial that served to further tarnish the Republican’s damaged reputation. Bridget Kelly, the governor’s former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, were found guilty in Newark federal court on all counts. They were convicted of fraud, conspiracy and depriving the residents of Fort Lee, New Jersey, of their civil rights. Christie, who is in charge of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s transition team, has not been criminally charged, but the scandal has torpedoed what was once seen as a promising political career. Christie on Friday again denied having had any advance knowledge of the scheme to choke traffic heading for the busy George Washington Bridge, which links New Jersey and Manhattan.  “I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments, and had no role in authorizing them,” Christie said in a statement following the verdict. “Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue.” The scandal has dogged Christie, once seen as a potential presidential nominee before his campaign for the White House failed this year. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta said on Friday Trump should ask Christie to resign as head of his transition team. Legal experts have said it is unlikely Christie would face any criminal consequences based on the trial testimony.  Baroni and Kelly were accused of shutting down access lanes to the bridge in September 2013 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, creating a massive days-long traffic jam to punish the town’s mayor, Mark Sokolich, a Democrat, for declining to endorse Christie’s reelection campaign. The Port Authority, which runs the bridge, says it is the world’s busiest, carrying 102 million vehicles a year on the I-95 interstate highway, a major east coast traffic artery. Lawyers for Kelly and Baroni vowed to appeal. “This is not over,” Kelly’s lawyer Michael Critchley said outside the courthouse, with his arm around his weeping client. He said the judge had erred during jury instructions. Defense lawyers were furious when U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton told jurors in response to a question they could convict Kelly and Baroni on conspiracy even if the act itself was not “intentionally punitive toward Mayor Sokolich.” Wigenton said prosecutors did not have to prove motive, even though their case had revolved around the political retribution. “By answering the way you’re answering, you’re directing a verdict of guilty,” an angry Critchley told Wigenton on Tuesday. Baroni’s lawyer, Michael Baldassare, told reporters the case was a “disgrace” and said the conviction would be overturned. “I am innocent of these charges,” a smiling Baroni said. Kelly and Baroni’s co-conspirator, former Port Authority official and confessed mastermind David Wildstein, had earlier pleaded guilty and appeared as the government’s star witness, detailing how the three schemed to pay back Sokolich. But Wildstein also implicated Christie, saying he and Baroni discussed the lane closures with the governor while they were ongoing. Christie, Wildstein testified, laughed at the notion that Sokolich was frustrated by the traffic. At the time, Christie believed that securing the backing of Democratic officials would burnish his national reputation, according to trial testimony. Kelly, who took the stand in her defense, testified she had discussed the lane closures with Christie a month beforehand, though she said she thought at the time they were part of a legitimate traffic study. “I take no pleasure in this verdict,” said U.S. Attorney of New Jersey Paul Fishman, a successor of Christie in that position. Fishman, whose office prosecuted the case, said he was saddened by the conduct of top government officials. Kelly and Baroni’s lawyers argued that Wildstein had orchestrated the plot himself and told them he was conducting a traffic study. Wildstein said on the stand the three of them knew all along that the study was a bogus cover story. Prosecutors showed jurors numerous exchanges that Kelly and Baroni each had with Wildstein, who operated as liaison between Baroni at the Port Authority and Kelly in the governor’s office. Those included Kelly’s now-infamous email to Wildstein that prosecutors said launched the scheme, in which she wrote, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” Kelly and Baroni are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 21. Each faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the most serious charge of fraud, though it is unlikely they would receive such a lengthy term. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: associates guilty new jersey scandalnew york reuters two former associates new jersey governor chris christie convicted friday roles bridgegate lane closure scandal following trial served tarnish republican damaged reputation bridge kelly governor former deputy chief staff bill baron former deputy executive director port authority new york new jersey found guilty newark federal court counts they convicted fraud conspiracy depriving residents fort lee new jersey civil rights christie charge republican presidential candidate donald trump transition team criminally charged scandal torpedoed seen promising political career christie friday denied advance knowledge scheme choke traffic heading busy george washington bridge links new jersey manhattan i knowledge prior lane realignment role authorizing christie said statement following verdict anything said contrary past six weeks court simply the scandal dogged christie seen potential presidential nominee campaign white house failed year democratic presidential nominee hillary clinton campaign chairman john modesta said friday trump ask christie resign head transition team legal experts said unlikely christie would face criminal consequences based trial testimony baron kelly accused shutting access lanes bridge september fort lee new jersey creating massive traffic jam punish town mayor mark sokolich democrat declining endorse christie reelection campaign the port authority runs bridge says world busiest carrying million vehicles year interstate highway major east coast traffic artery lawyers kelly baron vowed appeal this kelly lawyer michael critchley said outside courthouse arm around weeping client he said judge erred jury instructions defense lawyers furious district judge susan wigenton told jurors response question could convict kelly baron conspiracy even act intentionally punitive toward mayor wigenton said prosecutors prove motive even though case revolved around political retribution by answering way answering directing verdict guilty angry critchley told wigenton tuesday baron lawyer michael baldassare told reporters case disgrace said conviction would overturned i innocent charges smiling baron said kelly baron former port authority official confessed mastermind david wildstein earlier pleaded guilty appeared government star witness detailing three scheme pay back sokolich but wildstein also implicated christie saying baron discussed lane closures governor ongoing christie wildstein testified laughed notion sokolich frustrated traffic at time christie believed securing backing democratic officials would furnish national reputation according trial testimony kelly took stand defense testified discussed lane closures christie month beforehand though said thought time part legitimate traffic study i take pleasure verdict said attorney new jersey paul freshman successor christie position freshman whose office prosecuted case said saddened conduct top government officials kelly baron lawyers argued wildstein orchestrated plot told conducting traffic study wildstein said stand three knew along study bogus cover story prosecutors showed jurors numerous exchanges kelly baron wildstein operated liaison baron port authority kelly governor office those included kelly email wildstein prosecutors said launched scheme wrote time traffic problems fort kelly baron scheduled sentenced each faces maximum sentence years prison serious charge fraud though unlikely would receive lengthy term politicsnews