Closing arguments in the Bridgegate trial were abruptly cancelled on Thursday following a closed door meeting between the judge and lawyers — raising the possibility of a plea deal in the closely watched case.
Newark federal judge Susan Wigenton sent jurors home, telling them an undisclosed “legal issue” had forced her to call off summations which had been set to start at 9:30 a.m.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers declined to elaborate outside court, repeating Wigenton’s words “legal issue” to explain the sudden change of plans.
Legal experts said the unusual move could signal a plea deal was in the works.
An 11th-hour agreement usually involves copping to charges that carry less prison time than a jury verdict would entail — or no time at all, said Manhattan defense lawyer Michael Bachner.
“Or it may be some type of new evidence that the prosecution or the defense has found — a new witness they want to call,” said Bachner, whose past clients include crooked, ex-NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik.
“It’s something the court believes would impact the content of the summation — or whether a summation is necessary at all.”
Former Chris Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly and ex-Port Authority executive Bill Baroni are on trial for allegedly misusing PA resources to snarl traffic in Fort Lee in September 2013 as political payback against the city’s mayor for not endorsing the governor.
Additional reporting by David K. Li