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The mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, said he takes Governor Chris Christie at his word that he didnt know about intentional traffic jams in the town near the George Washington Bridge even as a former Christie ally claims the governor did.

Mark Sokolich, a Democrat, said he is skeptical about a Jan. 31 letter by an attorney for David Wildstein saying evidence exists that Christie, a Republican, knew about the shutdown of access lanes to the bridge as it occurred from Sept. 9 to Sept. 12. Sokolich said the closures were probably retaliation for him not supporting Christies re-election.

Christie, 51, denied any role in lane shutdowns ordered by Wildstein, once his appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the bridge. In a Feb. 1 e-mail to supporters, Christie questioned Wildsteins credibility. State lawmakers and U.S. prosecutors are probing the scandal, which has thrown into doubt Christies possible run for president. The decision to close lanes lengthened the typical 30-minute commute across the Hudson River to New York to as long as four hours.

Im the guy giving the governor the benefit of the doubt, and I take him at his word, Sokolich said yesterday in a phone interview. Ive said it 100 times, Im not rooting for the highest elected official in the state of New Jersey to be involved in this. Im not. But I dont know, it seems like all sorts of things are happening.

The letter by Wildsteins attorney, Alan Zegas, to the Port Authority said evidence exists tying Christie to having knowledge of the traffic tie-ups when the lanes were closed. At a Jan. 9 press conference, Christie said he learned of the closures after they took place and felt betrayed by his staff. Christie went that day to Fort Lee to apologize to Sokolich.

Im not a Wildstein fan, Ive made no secret of that, Sokolich said. Anything that emanates from his camp has to be taken with a grain of salt.

The traffic jams began on a Monday morning, when two of three local access lanes were closed, and continued each morning. Sokolich made repeated calls to the Port Authority to learn what was happening and got no response.

On that Friday, Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye, who was appointed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, ordered all lanes reopened. Wildstein is the former director of interstate capital projects at the Port Authority.

Sokolich said that based on what we know now, the shutdowns were probably a result of his failure to cross party lines and endorse Christie last November. He said any evidence that Wildstein has about Christies possible role must be analyzed carefully.

If it was his knowledge that, hey, were going after the mayor of Fort Lee for failing to endorse, if that knowledge was that Monday and then it was allowed to continue for the next four days, well you know what, thats a problem, he said. Your solemn oath would have dictated that you immediately have whoever is responsible cease and desist.

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Fort Lee Mayor Takes Christie at His Word Over Bridge