Legal experts see possible criminal charges in bridge scandal involving Christie loyalists

FILE - In this June 4, 2012, file photo, former assistant United States Attorney Reid Schar speaks during an interview at the office of his law firm Jenner & Block in Chicago. Schar, who served 13 years as as an assistant U.S. attorney, was the lead prosecutor in former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, the New Jersey Assembly tapped Schar as special counsel to advise a legislative committee plot that shut down lanes to the George Washington Bridge for four days in September. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File) (The Associated Press)

A television tuned to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's State of the State address is reflected in the windows at G.W. Grill in Fort Lee, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. Faced with a widening political scandal that threatens to undermine his second term and a possible 2016 presidential run, Christie apologized again Tuesday, saying his administration "let down the people we are entrusted to serve" but that the issue doesn't define his team or the state. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (The Associated Press)

NEWARK, N.J. – Legal experts say the George Washington Bridge traffic jam that was apparently engineered by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's allies could lead to criminal charges of conspiracy or official misconduct.

Also, those involved in the lane closings could be charged with perjury or obstruction if they lied to or misled investigators or if they produced documents after the fact that were designed to thwart an investigation.

Federal prosecutors and both houses of the New Jersey Legislature are investigating the scandal, which broke wide open last week with the release of emails and text messages suggesting that a top Christie aide ordered the lane closings in September to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee.

The mayor did not endorse Christie for re-election.