20 'Bridgegate' subpoenas include key Christie aides

• Christie%27s campaign is among 3 organizations also subpoenaed
• The governor has hired an outside law firm to respond to the scandal
• Senator finds %27zero evidence%27 that lanes were closed for a legitimate purpose

Twenty subpoenas issued by a special New Jersey committee investigating the "Bridgegate" scandal include key members of Gov. Chris Christie's administration and campaign, ranging from his spokesman to his chief counsel.

A full list of those subpoenaed was officially released Friday by a spokesman for the Assembly Democrats.

The list includes Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's deputy chief of staff, whom Christie fired for allegedly lying to him about the abrupt closing of access lanes to the George Washington Bridge on Sept. 9.

Other prominent Christie aides who were served include Bill Baroni, who already resigned as a Christie-appointee to the Port Authority; Michael Drewniak, spokesman for the governor; Maria Comella, director of communications for the governor; Charles McKenna, former chief counsel, and Regina Egea, who was slated to become the governor's chief of staff.

Drewniak's wife, Nicole Davidman, a GOP fundraiser, was also served.

Also subpoenaed from Christie's staff were Colin Reed, Christina Genovese Renna and Evan Ridley, along with Christie's re-election campaign committee and Matt Mowers, a re-election operative who now heads the New Hampshire Republican Party.

The subpoenas were being delivered as an attorney for former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official David Wildstein, the central figure in the scandal, says his client, if given immunity from prosecution could shed "significant light" on the case and discuss matters that "others aren't willing to talk about," The Recordreported Friday.

The Assembly special committee also subpoenaed Port Authority officials Philippe Danielides, a senior adviser to the chairman; Cristina Lado, director of government and community affairs for New Jersey; and Paul Nunziato, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association.

The subpoenas give the recipients until Feb. 3 to produce documents pertaining to "[a]ll aspects of the finances, operations and management of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey , including but not limited to, the reassignment of access lanes in Fort Lee, N.J. to the George Washington Bridge, and any other matter raising concerns about of abuse of power."

A New Jersey Senate committee is also investigating the case.The U.S. attorney's office is also looking into the matter.

Christie, who said he had no advance knowledge of the lane closures, has promised to cooperate with all "appropriate" investigations.

His office announced Thursday that he has hired an outside law firm, including a former federal prosecutor, to head up an internal review of the case and to deal with the outside investigations.

Attorney Alan Zegas said Wildstein, who was appointed to the Port Authority by Christie, has information that "could be used to test the credibility of others."

Wildstein resigned in the wake of the uproar over the closing of access lanes to the George Washington Bridge that caused gridlock for four days in the town of Fort Lee, N.J.

The Port Authority, which oversees operation of the bridge, stated in a letter this week to a U.S. senator examining the case that Wildstein directed the closures on Sept. 9 without its prior approval.

Critics charge that the move may have been retribution for the refusal by the mayor of Fort Lee to back Christie for re-election in 2013.

Wildstein appeared under subpoena last week before a New Jersey Assembly committee looking into the scandal, but declined to testify, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Zegas hinted at that time that he would like immunity from prosecution for his client.

Wildstein's role came to light from emails, supplied to an Assembly committee by Wildstein, that showed Christie's then deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly. ordering the lane closures.

She sent an e-mail to Wildstein two weeks before the shutdown that read: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."

To which Wildstein replied: "Got it."

Contributing: Catalina Camia, USA TODAY