Court document: aide texted Christie "flat out lied"

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — According to a new court filing, a former Chris Christie aide texted to a colleague that the New Jersey governor "flat out lied" at a news conference about the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal.

A transcript of the text is contained in court filings by attorneys representing Bill Baroni, who faces trial next month for allegedly helping orchestrate the lane closures for political revenge.

Christie's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The text exchange is between Christina Renna, Christie's director of intergovernmental affairs, and Peter Sheridan, a staffer on his re-election campaign. It came while the Republican governor was telling reporters at a news conference that no one in his office was involved.

Renna texted Sheridan that Christie "flat out lied" in saying his senior staff and campaign manager weren't involved.