Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich gave his first interview following the emails on the George Washington Bridge lane closures which came to light this week, and he's none too happy with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or the members of his staff: Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich Responds To Chris Christie Bridge Controversy: 'Shame On You':
After details of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's (R) top aide's involvement in a bridge scandal surfaced on Wednesday, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich (D) said he's grateful his instincts barred him from endorsing the governor.
"They don't concern me except when they act recklessly and they put my family, put my residents and citizens in harm's way," he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in a Wednesday interview. "Shame on you."
The mayor told Blitzer he believed the federal government should conduct a criminal investigation into the incident.
Sokolich said his greatest concerns lie in the future, when media coverage settles and the governor's staff is no longer under a magnifying glass.
"My problem is, when it goes away, what happens to my community? That's my problem," Sokolich said. "And I've said it since day one I am very, very fearful of ramifications in the future, quite frankly.''
NJ Mayor: Christie Should Apologize To Families For Lane Closures (VIDEO):
Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich on Wednesday said that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) should offer an apology not to him, but rather to the families who were impacted by the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge.
"Don't call me, but call the families," he told Wolf Blitzer on CNN's "The Situation Room." "He has to publicly address the folks who are specifically impacted by this."
Sokolich said that he hoped Christie was not involved in the lane closures, but that he was starting to believe the governor had something to do with it.
"I'm beginning to question my judgement," the Democrat said.
Sokolich does not recall an endorsement request from Christie, but is glad he did not endorse the governor.
"I'm grateful to my instincts because they have only proven me to be correct," he said. "Nobody should have to do anything like that, or provide any support under threat of retribution."
The Fort Lee mayor called the lane closures the "most venomous form of political retaliation."
Sokolich also lamented that the bridge scandal will ensure that New Jersey will remain the "butt of every political joke."
"I'm ashamed to be an elected official in New Jersey," he said. "It's not fair to the folks that follow the rules"
The mayor had this to add during a later appearance on Chris Hayes' show: NJ Mayor Says Christie Aide Deserves An 'Ass-Kicking'
