Ex-boss of airport, bridge agency appears in federal court

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, second left, United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek, third left, and New York/New Jersey Port Authority Chairman David Samson, fourth left, walk together at Newark Liberty International Airport, in Newark, N.J. David Samson, the former chairman of the agency that controls New York City-area bridges, tunnels and airports arrived at a New Jersey courthouse Thursday, July 14, 2016, ahead of a planned court appearance and a news conference by federal investigators. The U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey has been investigating whether Samson, a political mentor to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, wrongfully used his Port Authority of New York and New Jersey post to get United Airlines to provide direct air service to South Carolina in 2014 to make it easier to get to his vacation home. (AP Photo/Mel Evans,file) (The Associated Press)

In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, second left, New York/New Jersey Port Authority Chairman David Samson, left, and and United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek, right, laugh as New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, addresses a gathering at Newark Liberty International Airport, in Newark, N.J. David Samson, the former chairman of the agency that controls New York City-area bridges, tunnels and airports arrived at a New Jersey courthouse Thursday, July 14, 2016, ahead of a planned court appearance and a news conference by federal investigators. The U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey has been investigating whether Samson, a political mentor to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, wrongfully used his Port Authority of New York and New Jersey post to get United Airlines to provide direct air service to South Carolina in 2014 to make it easier to get to his vacation home. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file) (The Associated Press)

David Samson, center, former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey chairman, leaves Federal Court after a hearing Thursday, July 14, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Samson pleaded guilty Thursday to using his post to get United Airlines to run direct flights to South Carolina so that he could more easily visit his vacation home.(AP Photo/Mel Evans) (The Associated Press)

The former chairman of the agency that controls New York City-area bridges, tunnels and airports has arrived at a New Jersey courthouse ahead of a planned court appearance and a news conference by federal investigators.

It's unclear what David Samson will do when he appears in a Newark courtroom Thursday.

The U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey has been investigating whether Samson wrongfully used his Port Authority of New York and New Jersey post to get United Airlines to provide direct air service to South Carolina to make it easier to get to his vacation home.

United's CEO resigned after an investigation into that service.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, the FBI and the Port Authority's inspector general plan a Thursday afternoon press conference.

Samson is considered a mentor to Republican Gov. Chris Christie.