Will Chris Christie’s Former Aide Be Convicted Of A Crime For Refusing To Testify?

Aiming to get to the bottom of the developing bridge scandal emanating from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), the New Jersey State Assembly called Christie appointee David Wildstein to testify Thursday. Wildstein, a high school classmate of Christie’s who stepped down as director of interstate capital projects for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in December, invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, prompting the the legislature to hold him in contempt.

Wildstein’s silence on even the most basic questions has led many to conclude that he has something to hide. But guilt or innocence notwithstanding, what of Wildstein’s constitutional rights? Can he be held in contempt for staying silent? In all likelihood, Wildstein will not ultimately be convicted, given the extensive protection of the Fifth Amendment.

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Dirty Tricks, Traffic Studies, And Why Sociopaths Flourish In Politics

“Is it wrong that I’m smiling?” one Chris Christie staffer asked another after closing a major bridge to a punish town whose Mayor didn’t endorse the New Jersey Governor’s reelection bid. “No,” the other aide wrote back. This is what passes for a “traffic study” in the Christie administration, apparently.

If the aides’ discussion strikes you as a horrifying way to talk about a decision that hurts thousands of people, you’re not alone: that’s one of the reasons this scandal seems to be so devastating for Chris Christie’s political future. It plays into the House of Cards stereotype about politicians and political operatives, that they care about power above all else, including the welfare of their constituents.

As it turns out, this stereotype has some basis in fact. According to solid psychological research and theory, politicians often end up possessing qualities common in sociopaths — or simply are sociopaths themselves. And while it’s not possible to identify the psychology behind the actions of Christie or his staff, the sheer callousness of their rhetoric presents a good opportunity to examine whether political leaders and operatives more broadly have an empathy problem. The answer appears to be yes.

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