Reversing earlier statements, Fort Lee's Democratic mayor now says he was asked to endorse Republican Chris Christie's re-election bid last year. His failure to do so remains the prevailing theory for the surprise lane closings at the George Washington Bridge last September.

On Monday, the mayor, Mark Sokolich, confirmed media reports that he was approached. He didn't say why he reversed his earlier account that he could not recall "a specific request to endorse." He did, however, tell CNN last week that other events could be seen as an attempt to attract his endorsement.

Documents released in the ongoing Bridgegate investigation appear to show Christie loyalists engineered massive gridlock in Fort Lee, which the mayor interpreted as political punishment. However, Christie has said Sokolich was never mentioned to him as somebody his campaign was pursuing for an endorsement.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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