Politics & Government

NHGOP Official Has Ties to #Bridgegate Controversy

The Wall Street Journal reports that Matt Mowers approached Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich about endorsing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that New Hampshire Republican State Committee Executive Director Matt Mowers was the one who asked Fort Lee, New Jersey Mayor Mark Sokolich about endorsing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

In a report posted Sunday, the Wall Street Journal said Sokolich was approached by Mowers, who at that time was working as the Christie campaign's regional political director. The story doesn't say that Mowers directly asked for an endorsement, only that he indicated that "an endorsement would be welcome." 

Mowers was hired as the NHGOP's executive director in November, shortly after Christie won re-election. He had worked for the Christie administration since 2010.

The issue of whether Sokolich was ever asked to endorse Christie has become a key piece of the so-called "Bridgegate" controversy following the revelation that members of Christie's staff apparently forced traffic jams in retaliation for the Fort Lee mayor's refusal to endorse the governor.

Mowers did not respond to an email Sunday night seeking comment on the Wall Street Journal story.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party issued a statement Monday calling on Mowers and the NHGOP to "come clean" about what, if any, role Mowers played.

"Granite Staters deserve to know about Mowers’ role in Christie’s growing bridge scandal," NHDP Communications Director Harrell Kirstein said. "Did he bully the mayor of Fort Lee when he declined to endorse Christie? Was he a part of the scheme to shut down the George Washington Bridge? Simply put, he and the NHGOP leadership should come clean and answer some basic questions for the people of New Hampshire."

NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn issued her own statement Monday afternoon, defending Mowers.

"Matt is an extremely talented young man and he has been a tremendous addition to our team," Horn said. "He is going to continue to make a valuable contribution to our party and help us defeat the Democrats in November and restore fiscal responsibility to our government.

"Democrats are desperate to distract from the fact that Jeanne Shaheen lied to New Hampshire about the disastrous consequences of ObamaCare. They will do and say anything to avoid a discussion about how Shaheen's deciding vote for ObamaCare forced thousands of New Hampshire families to lose their health insurance and give up their doctors."


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