Wisniewski Amid Wray Questions:

Make Retainer Agreements Mandatory by Law

            (TRENTON) – Assembly Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), who found the evidence linking Gov. Chris Christie’s administration to the criminal revenge plan to close access lanes to the George Washington Bridge, released the following Tuesday regarding a WNYC report that Christopher Wray represented Christie as his personal, publicly funded Bridgegate attorney for 11 months before signing a mandatory retainer agreement.

Wray is now President Trump’s nominee for FBI director:

“It’s simply outrageous that Gov. Christie and Mr. Wray went nearly a year without a mandatory retainer agreement for this taxpayer-funded expense. This is highly unusual and raises questions about whether Gov. Christie was trying to hide this cost and legal representation from the public. Mr. Wray and his colleagues ended up costing taxpayers $2 million, yet the governor did not even take basic steps to provide public transparency and uphold ethics standards.

“The U.S. Senate needs to fully investigate these serious questions before confirming Mr. Wray to lead the FBI.

“Gov. Christie – besides providing a clear explanation – should also refund the taxpayers for Mr. Wray’s services that were completed without a written agreement.

“After researching this matter, I have determined that New Jersey needs a clear statutory requirement for retention agreements. I will be introducing legislation to accomplish that goal. The taxpayers deserve better. This serious breach cannot and should not be repeated.”