US prosecutors have been barred until Tuesday by a federal judge in New Jersey from releasing a list of un-indicted co-conspirators in the 'Bridge-gate' scandal. Extension of deadline for the release appears following eleventh hour attempt by an anonymous person to prevent the release on Friday.
Prior to that, Susan Wigenton, the US District Judge in Newark has ordered Paul Fishman, US Attorney General for New Jersey to file the list by Friday noon. The court order has taken place after a consortium of media companies filed a motion seeking the information. The anonymous motion petitioner has also been ordered to place written arguments in favor of his appeal.
The mass awaited document is expected to reveal the names of individuals in Chris Christie's administration, aware of closing down lanes at the George Washington Bridge. The bridge is a major commuter link to New York City and closing down the lanes has taken place as an act of political retaliation against a local mayor, reports Reuters quoting the prosecutors. The Republican governor of New Jersey has denied any knowledge of the alleged plot.
CNN has named the motion petitioner as 'John Doe'. Friday's court ruling suggests that Doe may remain anonymous considering the context of his motion. However, his identity will still be released as part of the unindicted co-conspirator list. Bruce Rosen, lawyer for the media groups seeking to make the list public has expressed satisfaction over the court ruling since eventually it allows proceeding with their move. The US attorney's office has opposed releasing the list citing individual privacy concerns. The office is prosecuting two former allies of the Republican Governor in the 'lane closing scandal'. Doe has been looking to deal with the same issues which have already been dismissed, observes the US District Judge in her court ruling. Doe's motion suggests, he will be publicly branded a felon without due process of law, causing him immediate and irreparable reputation harm. However, the court ruling directs for releasing the list against whom Government has sufficient evidence to trial as the scam conspirators due to public interest, according to a report published in Fox News. The US prosecutors have reportedly prepared two lists- one of unindicted co-conspirators participating in the conspiracy and the other of silent supporters. Bruce has asked prosecutors on Friday to hand over the second set of names and later on, has vowed to seek court intervention if the request gets denied.
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