'One of the most abjectly stupid things I've ever seen': Chris Christie denounces Bridgegate after his aides are found guilty of political retribution plot

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has called the Bridgegate plot to punish a Democratic mayor for not endorsing his re-election 'one of the most abjectly stupid things I've ever seen.'

Christie has spoken out for the first time since two of his ex-aides, former deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly and former Port Authority executive Bill Baroni, were charged for closing down lanes at the George Washington Bridge in an act of political retribution.

The most serious charges could see both defendants in jail for as many as 20 years.

Christie, who avoided charges, has always denied knowing about the plot - despite testimonies from Kelly, Baroni and former Port Authority official David Wildstein that he was informed about the lane closure.

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (pictured last month) called the Bridgegate plot to punish a Democratic mayor for not endorsing his re-election 'one of the most abjectly stupid things I've ever seen'

In an interview with CBS This Morning, the governor said that he could not understand why his aides had carried out the scheme.

'I never could figure it out,' said Christie. 'It was one of the most abjectly stupid things I've ever seen. 

'I mean, think about it... I'm up by 25 points in a reelection in a blue state. And they decide they're gonna create a traffic jam in a town that's a Democrat town, that I wound up winning two months later in the election?'

The six-week trial of his closest former aides has served to further tarnish the Christie's damaged public reputation.

Christie had been eyeing a presidential run in 2016, and was later considered as Donald Trump's running mate before the Republican presidential candidate plumped for Mike Pence.

Sources had told the New York Post that while Trump had been keen on Christie, his top aides as well as his two oldest sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, wanted him to take Pence.

'Trump had wanted Christie but Bridgegate would have been the biggest national story,' a source close to Trump told the Post. 'He'd lose the advantage of not being corrupt.' 

Bridget Anne Kelly, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Christie, broke down in tears as she was found guilty on all counts in the George Washington Bridge traffic trial

Bill Baroni, right, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's former top appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Kelly, will both be sentenced on February 21 

Yet Christie denies that Bridgegate was the reason why Trump selected Pence over him.

'We all have political baggage. I think he thought Mike was the better choice,' he said, although he admitted it could have had an impact. 

'You'd have to ask Donald Trump. But Donald Trump didn't call me and say, "You're not gonna be vice president because of Bridgegate,"' he said. 

Job approval ratings for Christie were also down to their lowest point at just 21 per cent, the Washington Post reports, adding that his political career had 'sustained a serious blow'.

A recent Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll found more than half of voters believed there was 'sufficient proof' Christie knew of the lane closures.

Despite the knock-backs in the wake of the scandal, Christie thinks claims his political career are 'over' have been exaggerated.

'Their conclusion is a snapshot in time,' he said of those reports. 'I can't tell you how many times I've been told my political career was over. Here I am.'

The two officials were accused of shutting down access lanes at the George Washington Bridge (stock image, pictured) in September 2013, thereby creating a massive days-long traffic jam to punish a local mayor for declining to endorse Christie's reelection campaign

The New Jersey governor insists that he had been an unfair target of the media for the past three years, and had been unable to defend himself because of the judicial proceedings.

'Now I can talk,' he added. 

The plot that led to the convictions Friday of Kelly and Baroni, stemmed from Christie's political team's efforts to build bipartisan support they hoped would eventually help him in this year's presidential election.

The two officials were accused of shutting down access lanes at the George Washington Bridge in September 2013, thereby creating a massive days-long traffic jam to punish a local mayor for declining to endorse Christie's reelection campaign. 

The ploy was allegedly retaliation against Democratic Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich who refused to endorse Christie for reelection in 2013. 

Instead, the scandal and criminal case that came from the plot has dragged Christie down, helping to keep his own presidential campaign from going anywhere and featuring testimony reinforcing Christie's reputation among his critics as a bully. 

The trial also included allegations that he knew more about the lane closings than he's previously claimed. 

Christie said again Friday that he had no knowledge of the plot and said he would 'set the record straight' soon about 'the lies told by the media and in the courtroom.'

'I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments and had no role in authorizing them,' Christie said. 'No believable evidence was presented to contradict that fact. Anything said to the contrary over the past six weeks in court is simply untrue.'

Beyond the Trump presidential campaign, the fallout from Friday's verdict included Democrats calling for a new investigation in to the governor's role and calls for impeachment from liberal groups in New Jersey.

Montclair State University political science professor Brigid Callahan Harrison said Christie was damaged by 'the narcissistic way' he was portrayed at the trial.

Christie denies he was dropped from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's (pictured with him in March on the campaign trail) ticket because of the scandal

'These convictions will be an essential defining feature of Christie's legacy in office,' she said, 'and will forever taint how his administration is perceived and will be remembered.'

What comes next for Christie isn't clear, but a Trump win on Tuesday over Democrat Hillary Clinton could give him an exit hatch from the political morass he faces at home, taking the two-term governor to Washington as a Cabinet pick or top aide. Although the fallout from the convictions and questions about what Christie knew could also complicate that.

Even though Trump said last year that he thought Christie 'totally knew' about the lane closing plot, he appointed him to lead his transition team. 

Christie has assembled a team led by two close advisers responsible for filling thousands of government jobs if Trump wins.

John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman, on Friday called for Trump to ask Christie to resign after the verdict.

Podesta said that 'rather than just ... talking about cleaning up the swamp (Trump) might start by draining his own swamp and asking Mr. Christie to resign as the head of his transition.'

Kelly and Baroni's co-conspirator, the former Port Authority executive and confessed mastermind David Wildstein, pleaded guilty and appeared as the government's star witness, detailing how the three officials schemed to pay back Sokolich, a Democrat.

Christie pictured speaking about his knowledge of a traffic study that snarled traffic at the George Washington Bridge during a news conference on January 9, 2014 at the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey

Kelly and Baroni testified during the trial that they were under the impression the lane closures were part of a study by Wildstein. 

Wildstein also implicated Christie, saying he and Baroni discussed the lane closures with the governor while they were ongoing. 

Christie, Wildstein testified, laughed at the notion that Sokolich was frustrated by the traffic.

The governor insists all he was told was that there was traffic at the George Washington Bridge 'and that the mayor was not getting his phone calls returned.'

Kelly, who took the stand in her defense, testified she had discussed the lane closures with Christie a month beforehand, though she said she thought at the time they were part of a legitimate traffic study.

Christie told CBS he has 'absolutely no recollection' of any of his aides telling him about the deliberate plot to create traffic.