Grand jury convened in NJ bridge scandal

The U.S. Attorney in New Jersey convened a grand jury on Friday to investigate the George Washington Bridge scandal, ABC News reports. 

Nearly two-dozen grand jurors met after being summoned by the U.S. Attorney, the report said, and will meet for the next 18 months.

{mosads}They heard testimony from Gov. Chris Christie’s (R-N.J.) press secretary, Mike Drewniak, who has not been tied to the scandal. 

ABC notes that the convening of the grand jury suggests the investigation has moved beyond just a preliminary inquiry by the Justice Department. 

The jury has the power to interview witnesses without lawyers being present as well as to indict or subpoena. 

This comes after an internal probe ordered by Christie revealed last week that he didn’t know of last September’s lane closures in advance. 

Some questioned the merits of the investigation because Christie had ties to the law firm that conducted it, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

The New Jersey state legislature, meanwhile, is also working on its own investigation of the scandal.