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Press Release 050115

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Press Release 050115 MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Miller 859.619.6328 [email protected] May 1, 2015 ADDRESSING THE MISGUIDED INDICTMENT OF BILL BARONI Bill Baroni, the former Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is innocent of the charges brought against him today by federal prosecutors. The accusations are false, and when the facts come to light, Bill will be fully exonerated. Throughout his entire career of public service, Bill has placed principle above politics. Bill, whose career has been marked by integrity and a non-partisan pursuit of the common good, did not commit the acts of which he has been accused. By contrast, no one disputes that David Wildstein is a criminal and a liar. Today, he said under oath that he is a criminal. The record in this case is equally clear that he is a liar. David Wildstein lied to Bill Baroni, his close friend of over a decade, about the impetus for a traffic study. And as the public record clearly reflects, David Wildstein lied to all of the following officials when he told them that the lane closures were a traffic study: Peter Zipf, Port Authority Chief Engineer, Bob Durando, George Washington Bridge General Manager, Mike Drewniak, Chief Spokesman for Governor Christie, Mike Duhaime, Chief Political Strategist for Governor Christie, and Nicole Crifo, Senior Counsel to Governor Christie’s Authorities Unit.i Continuing his habit of lying, today David Wildstein lied to a federal judge about Bill Baroni. And today, habitual liar David Wildstein lied to a federal judge about Bill Baroni. If David Wildstein was willing to repeatedly lie to settle a petty political grudge, no one should be surprised at his eagerness to concoct any story he thinks will help him stay out of federal prison. We are confident that people will see this desperate ploy for exactly what it is. As revealed in the voluminous documents and materials that he provided to public authorities, Bill was given pages and pages of data, emails and documents that would have convinced anyone a legitimate traffic study had been conducted. (See attached file.) That’s why he provided extensive documentation to both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the New Jersey Legislature, and it’s why he testified in front of the Legislature. By the same token, the U.S. Attorney’s Office should take all necessary steps to release its supposed evidence to Mr. Baroni immediately. That Office should not hide all the grand jury transcripts, witness statements and documents from Mr. Baroni until the eve of trial. This case is far too important for trial by ambush. 250 West Main Street | Suite 2800 | Lexington, Kentucky 40507-1749 | 859.231.0000 | frostbrowntodd.com Offices in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia As for the public’s right to see that alleged evidence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office should release as much information as possible. The taxpayers who footed the bill for this multi-million dollar investigation have a right to know what the U.S. Attorney’s Office has discovered during its year plus investigation. Mr. Baroni embraces transparency because he is innocent, and once all the facts are out, everyone will know it. Sincerely, Mike Baldassare and Jennifer Mara, Baldassare & Mara, Newark, NJ Lead Counsel for Bill Baroni Jonathan Miller, Frost Brown Todd, Lexington, KY Outside Counsel for Bill Baroni In addition to Bill’s attorneys, also available are several people who can attest to the strong and enduring character of a man who has dedicated his life to public service: Mike Donohue, Bill’s college classmate, Public Affairs Professional Former US Congressman Mickey Edwards (R) Former Nevada Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki (R) Civil rights activist David Mixner (D) Further, the following individuals, who were students of Bill’s in courses that he teaches at the Seton Hall University School of Law, are available to discuss Bill’s strong personal integrity and can attest to the compassion and concern he has shown as a mentor, teacher, and friend: James Devine Rick Halmo Thomas Maloney Danielle Steele i Zipf/Wildstein Emails provided by Bill Baroni to the New Jersey Legislature and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, August 28-29, 2013; Durando Testimony before the New Jersey Legislature, December 20, 2013; Mastro Report source materials, Drewniak Interview, p. 8, Duhaime Interview, p. 7, Crifo Interview, p. 5. 250 West Main Street | Suite 2800 | Lexington, Kentucky 40507-1749 | 859.231.0000 | frostbrowntodd.com Offices in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia .
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