Port Authority Police Told to 'Shut Up' During Bridegate

The Port Authority police officers that worked at the George Washington Bridge last year during the so-called “BridgeGate” were told by their bosses to keep quiet.

A summary of the officers’ accounts in a memorandum says they were dismissed when they raised concern over the traffic the closed lanes would cause, The Star-Ledger reported.

The memo, received by the Star-Ledger, shows an account of a veteran officer, Steve Pisciotta, who when asked for the lanes to be reopened, was told to “shut up” by his supervisor, Deputy Inspector Darcy Licorish. Gov. Christie’s friend, Lt. Thomas “Chip” Michaels, and Sgt. Rhem then went to Pisciotta’s post and told him his radio comment was inappropriate.

Email exchanges from Sept. 8, 2013 show Michaels and Licorish had known about the Sept. 9-13 lane closures. The closures appear to be a result of a dispute between Democratic Fort Lee Mayor, Mark Sokolich, and Republican Chris Christie during his reelection, according to the Star-Ledger.

This is the latest news in the ongoing Bridgegate investigation.