Chris Christie may face impeachment over Bridgegate

Members of the New Jersey Assembly are considering beginning the impeachment process against Gov. Chris Christie (R), as early testimony over the 2013 "Bridgegate" scandal increasingly indicates Christie had more knowledge of the plot's details than he'd initially admitted, NBC reports. The unnecessary lane closures on the George Washington Bridge in September 2013 created massive traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey, allegedly as payback for Fort Lee's mayor refusing to endorse Chris Christie in that year's gubernatorial election. Members of Christie's staff have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy.

A committee chairman who asked not to be named told NBC that obstruction of justice would "clearly" be a charge they could bring against Christie and that the odds are 50-50 that the assembly goes on to try to impeach the governor.

The process would look like this: First, Democratic Speaker Vincent Prieto would have to approve of the impeachment proceedings, then the majority of the 80-seat Assembly would have to vote for the impeachment. The Assembly is Democratically controlled, and assuming the vote to impeach Christie won, the impeachment trial would then take place in the state Senate. Two-thirds of the senators would have to vote in favor of impeachment to remove Christie from office. Democrats make up the majority of the state Senate, but three Republicans would need to agree to the impeachment in order for it to occur.

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Were Christie to serve the rest of his term as normal, he is due to be replaced in 16 months anyway, when his second term ends in 2018.