David Samson

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — The former chairman of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop an ethics inquiry against him and his law firm, as lawmakers and the bistate agency's own board members continued to wrestle with instituting new ethics reforms.

Lawyers for the former chairman of the agency that oversees the George Washington Bridge say their client will not be turning over any more documents to a New Jersey legislative panel investigating the lane closures that sparked a political scandal for Gov. Chris Christie.

Claims that a traffic study was the true purpose of last September's chaotic lane closings at the George Washington Bridge have drawn skepticism for months. The Christie administration's internal report on Bridgegate leaves them in shreds.

Gov. Chris Christie surprised a Friday afternoon press conference by announcing the resignation of David Samson as chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and endorsing recommendations for structural changes in the PA.