During the Bridgegate anniversary, the fallout continues with United CEO resignation

Today marks two years since members of ’s administration shut down lanes on the , the busiest bridge in the world, in order to exact retribution on a Democratic mayor who refused to endorse Governor Christie’s re- election bid. For four days, traffic built up, school children were stuck on the bridge for hours on end, and first responders were slowed in responding to medical emergencies and car accidents.

Two years have gone by, and Chris Christie is doing whatever he can to try and make the press corps—and the American people—forget about this scandal, for which his aides have been indicted. But yesterday's news regarding the resignation of United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek is just one example of how the fallout from the Bridgegate scandal continues.

The people of certainly haven't forgotten about Bridgegate, and we haven't either. Here's what you need to know on the two year anniversary.

1. United CEO Jeff Smisek’s resignation is just another domino to fall in the aftermath of the Bridgegate scandal.

One result of U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman’s investigation into the Bridgegate scandal was a separate investigation into Christie-appointed Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) Chairman , who resigned from the agency once it was clear he played a role in the Bridgegate scandal. Fishman’s separate investigation of PANYNJ is examiningwhether United Airlines created a flight route from Newark, NJ to an airport near Samson’s vacation home in South Carolina in order to earn Samson’s support for PANYNJ initiatives favorable to the company.

As a result of the federal investigation, United began an internal investigation into the Newark-South Carolina flight route, and that investigation has led to the resignation of three United executives and Christie donors, including CEO Jeff Smisek.

Jeff Smisek is the same CEO who met with, and donated to, Chris Christie in the midst of his company’s attempts to convince PANYNJ to lower United’s flight fees at Newark Airport in New Jersey.

And don’t forget the unprecedented amount of money United Airlines or its individual managers donated to:

• Chris Christie’s re-election bid • Choose New Jersey, a group established by the Christie administration that has funded the governor’s foreign trade missions • The Republican Governors Association when Christie was the chairman

2. The Bridgegate trial hasn’t even started.

No matter how many times Chris Christie says it's over, it isn't. If he were to really tell it like it is, he would tell you that the Bridgegate trial will continue this fall, where his top aides and Bridget Kelly will face charges of conspiracy, fraud and other similar charges. Maybe that’s where the names of those who federal prosecutors called “unindicted coconspirators” will come to light.

3. Christie used a private email account - which is against New Jersey guidelines - for government business. And he deleted text messages sent during the Bridgegate scandal.

It's been proven that Chris Christie used a private email account when discussing the resignation of , his high school buddy and key architect behind closing the George Washington Bridge lanes. David Wildstein pleaded guilty to closing the lanes, and will face a sentencing date scheduled for January – right around the Iowa caucus. Christie also deleted a dozen text messages he exchanged with an aide during key moments of a legislative hearing during the early investigation of the lane closures.

4. Bridgegate is a prime example of how Christie is NOT the coalition builder he claims to be.

On the campaign trail, Chris Christie likes to falsely claim that he's a coalition builder who can get things done. The reality? Christie has vetoed more bills than any other governor in New Jersey history, consistently strong arms members of his own party to get what he wants, has told reporters to "take the bat out on" members of the opposite party, or screamed at teachersand constituents who disagree with him, telling one to "sit down and shut up." And would an office with a "coalition building" spirit really feel comfortable punishing a Democratic mayor and his constituents by closing lanes on the George Washington Bridge for days on end? No.

5. It’s not just Bridgegate that’s a ding on Christie’s White House bid. It’s his failed economic record that has driven New Jersey into a ditch.

New Jersey’s economy has lagged so far behind the rest of the nation that the country’s economic recovery is barely felt in the state. Under Chris Christie, New Jersey has consistently ranked near last in the nation in job creation with an unemployment rate higher than the national average, the state’s property taxes are the highest in the nation, and its credit rating has been downgraded a record-breaking nine times. So it’s not just the Bridgegate scandal that clouds the Christie campaign – it’s his failed economic record, too.

“It’s clear the impact of the Bridgegate scandal isn’t going away. The fallout from this scandal, coupled with New Jersey’s tanking economy, spells out disaster for the people of New Jersey and the Christie campaign. Bottom line: Chris Christie is more interested in looking out for himself than in doing what’s right for his constituents, and that won’t change if he’s in the White House.” –Kaylie Hanson, DNC spokesperson