Bridget Kelly, portrayed by the Christie administration report on Bridgegate as a lying participant in the George Washington Bridge lane closings, struck back through her attorney Friday, hinting at renewed eagerness to tell her story to the U.S. Attorney.

Bridget Anne Kelly, Gov. Christie's former deputy chief of staff, with her attorney Michael Critchley, in court March 11. (Photo Mel Evans-Pool / Getty Images)
Bridget Anne Kelly, Gov. Christie's former deputy chief of staff, with her attorney Michael Critchley, in court March 11. (Photo Mel Evans-Pool / Getty Images)
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Michael Critchley, Kelly's lawyer, issued a statement attacking the report and its Thursday presentation by Randy Mastro, lead attorney for the internal review.

Critchley took particular aim at references in the report and by Mastro Thursday to a past, since-ended, relationship between Kelly and former Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien, calling them "venomous, gratuitous, and inappropriate sexist remarks" that "have no place in what is alleged to be a professional and independent report."

"We note that by Mr. Mastro’s own admission, he did not have access to all information," Critchley said, referring to the non-cooperation of his client and former Port Authority official David Wildstein, portrayed in the report as promoting the lane closing scheme with Kelly.

Critchley's statement continued:

"There appear to be two distinct versions of the George Washington Bridge lane closings On the one hand, Mr. Wildstein, through his counsel, has taken one clear position. On the other hand, Mr. Mastro has staked a different view. Thus, Ms. Kelly’s evidence could be critical to verifying either of the two competing versions of events. A preemptive strike to isolate Ms. Kelly and impugn her credibility is not surprising.

"Despite Mr. Mastro’s editorialized comments to the contrary, Ms. Kelly is not a liar. She is a single mother of four children who was deeply devoted and committed to her job at the Office of the Governor. She worked tirelessly to pursue the goals of the Office during her tenure.

"The only credible investigation into the lane closings is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If Ms. Kelly were provided with the appropriate procedural safeguards, she will be fully cooperative and provide truthful and complete answers to any questions asked of her by the appropriate law enforcement authorities."

In his press conference Friday, Christie was asked whether Kelly might tell either the ongoing legislative investigation or the U.S. Attorney a version of the Bridgegate story different from the one in the internal report.

"Not credibly," the governor said.

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