Christie denies 'flat out lied' text in bridge case

A lawyer for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's former campaign manager says that suggesting Christie was involved in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal based on a text message exchange is "categorically false and irresponsible."

According to a new court filing, a former Christie aide texted to a colleague that the governor "flat out lied" at a 2013 news conference about Bill Stepien and other staffers' involvement.

Christie denies that he lied during the news conference about the bridge lane-closing scandal.

Wednesday, he said a former aide's text message to a colleague that the governor "flat out lied" about the involvement of his staffers in the scandal was not true. Christie spoke outside a radio station in New York.

The transcript was from an exchange is between Christina Renna, Christie's director of intergovernmental affairs, and Peter Sheridan, a staffer on his re-election campaign. Renna texted Sheridan that Christie "flat out lied" in saying his senior staff and campaign manager weren't involved.

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

Stepien's lawyer, Kevin Marino, said Wednesday Renna testified before a legislative committee and did not implicate Stepien.