ASBURY PARK PRESS :: MONMOUTH EDITION

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WEDNESDAY 09.28.16

SPRINGSTEEN IN FREEHOLD FOR BOOK DEBUT

BOSS PAYS
VISIT HOME
BRIDGEGATE TRIAL
David Wildstein (left) has said he is hopeful
that his agreement to testify for the
government will be rewarded with a
sentence that does not include prison.

Wildstein: Gov
was told of
Fort Lee jam
at 9/11 event
DUSTIN RACIOPPI AND PETER SAMPSON
STAFF WRITERS

PHOTOS BY BOB BIELK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Bruce Springsteen greets a fan at the Barnes & Noble in Freehold Township to promote the release of his new book.

Thousands of fans line up at bookstore to meet

rocker, get photos taken with their musical hero

As pressure mounted for answers to what was causing traffic jams at the George Washington Bridge in
2013, top Port Authority officials were revealing details
of their scheme to close the lanes, but only to a circle of
high-ranking officials that included Gov. Chris Christie, the admitted mastermind of the plot said in federal
court Tuesday.
The continuing testimony from David Wildstein, the
former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive who has pleaded guilty in a deal with the government for a possible reduced sentence, offered the
most detailed contradiction yet to Christie, who has insisted, as he did again Tuesday, that he had no knowledge of the plot or any personal involvement.
Wildsteins testimony drew a portrait of a Christie
team both in state government and in his re-election
campaign that was ruthless in its pursuit of support
and loyalty.
In his third day on the witness stand, Wildstein said
See TRIAL, Page 2A

CHRIS JORDAN @CHRISFHJORDAN

Bruce Springsteen was the early bird.

Springsteen popped into the Barnes & Noble in Freehold Township at 10:20 a.m.
Tuesday, more than an hour and a half earlier than expected, for an appearance
marking the release of his autobiography, Born to Run.
He walked to the rear of the store, stepped up onto a small platform and began
taking pictures with fans.
He touched me, said Christine Grimaldi, 30, formerly of Marlboro, as she
bounded out of the store. It was amazing.
Springsteen, a Freehold Borough native, met with approximately 2,000 fans
over four hours at the Barnes & Noble. The event featured fans who purchased a
book getting a photo of themselves with Springsteen on a platform in the rear of
the store. Free tickets were distributed through Eventbrite.
How are you doing? Springsteen asked a female fan. Thank you very much

Visit APP.com to see

video and photos
from Springsteens
appearance in
Freehold, plus
stories on his roots
and his new
autobiography.

See BOSS, Page 14A

SEASIDE PARK BOMBING SUSPECT

Bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami in a
photo provided by the Union County
Prosecutors Office.
County to honor suspects captors. Page 5A

Sister: He was
going to hit me
with a dumbbell
BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI ASSOCIATED PRESS

People line up inside Barnes & Noble on Tuesday for an opportunity to meet Bruce Springsteen.

The sister of the man accused of setting off bombs in

Seaside Park, Elizabeth and Manhattan told police in
August 2014 that he was getting ready to hit her with a
dumbbell and stabbed another brother in the leg when
he jumped in to help her, police reports show.
The bombing suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahami, has
been hospitalized since he was caught following a
shootout with police in Linden last week, days after the
bombings. Officials said he remained unconscious
Tuesday.
He has not made an initial court appearance, and his
American Civil Liberties Union lawyers, who began
representing him Monday, declined to comment.
His sister, Zobydha Rahami, told investigators that
he was preparing to pray when he began throwing
things at her in their familys home above their fried
chicken restaurant in Elizabeth. She said he then
punched and slapped her in the face, hit her and her
See BOMBING, Page 11A

N.J. steps up battle against opioids

KEN SERRANO @KENSERRANOAPP

A teardrop tattoo of New Jersey just above his left

cheek, Rich Wilder of Jackson found himself in the
glare of television cameras Tuesday and a long way
from the start of his 10-year descent into heroin addiction.
Wilder stood next to Gov. Chris Christie at the
Statehouse as the governor unveiled a series of new
or expanded efforts to combat the heroin and opioid
epidemic and commemorate National Recovery
Month.

Clinton, Trump back fighting on campaign trail after

record-breaking debate. 1B

ADVICE
CLASSIFIED
COMICS
LOCAL
OBITUARIES

5D
1E
4D
3A
9A

Wilder, two years sober and working for a lumber

and millwork supply store, was Christies success
story. Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, who works as the
director of the New Jersey Reentry Corp., also stood
next to him. The state job, training and housing program for ex-offenders with addictions helped Wilder
get the job.
I was raised in a good family, and they taught me
right from wrong, Wilder said. The addiction was
just something that took over my life and took over
See OPIOIDS, Page 11A

OPINION
SPORTS
TABLE
WEATHER
YOUR MONEY

12A
1C
1D
8C
4A

VOLUME 137
NUMBER 233
SINCE 1879