Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) announced Monday that he has referred contempt charges against David Wildstein, a former appointee of Gov. Chris Christie's at the Port Authority, to the Mercer County prosecutor's office.

On Thursday Wildstein was unanimously found in-contempt of the Assembly Transportation Committee, which Wisniewski chairs, after he pleaded the Fifth Amendment on every question posed to him at an investigatory hearing on the unannounced lane closures at the George Washington Bridge in September.

Private messages subpoenaed by the committee from Wildstein indicate he helped to orchestrate the closures and did so as a form of political retaliation. He resigned last month from his post amid the brewing controversy.

"The committee unanimously believes that Mr. Wildstein's obfuscation of our investigation rises to the level of contempt under existing state statutes," Wisniewski said in a statement. "I'm hopeful that the Mercer County prosecutor will see it fit to take up this matter in an effort to aid our quest to protect taxpayer resources from further abuse."

Earlier in the day, Assembly Democrats announced that Wisniewski would chair a new, bipartisan special investigatory committee dedicated to the scandal that will be equipped with subpoena power and access to special counsel.

Wildstein Contempt Charges

Stay informed: Subscribe to free NJBIZ newsletters