Governor ‘unaware’ staff caused traffic chao

New Jersey governor Chris Christie yesterday apologised to his constituents and said he was “embarrassed and humiliated” by his staff but had no idea his aides may have closed highway lanes to exact political retribution.

Christie said he was firing deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly “because she lied to me”.

Kelly is the latest casualty in a widening scandal that threatens to upend Christie’s second term and likely run for president in 2016. Documents show she arranged traffic jams to punish the mayor of Fort Lee — a borough in New Jersey — who didn’t endorse Christie for re-election.