NJ Legislators Create Panel To Investigate Christie Administration's Lane Closure Scandal

Committee will be bipartisan

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey legislators announced the creation of a new committee, with subpoena power and a special counsel, to press an investigation into who ordered lanes closed on the George Washington Bridge last fall — and what Gov. Chris Christie knew about it.

Democratic leaders in the state Assembly said the committee will begin with the bridge closure and possibly expand to look into other allegations of "abuse of power" by Christie, considered one of the early favorites for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The panel will include Republicans as well as Democrats and have its own budget, although the details haven't been set yet, said Vincent Prieto, the incoming Assembly speaker.