Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich believes the George Washington Bridge scandal has "shed light on a sad set of circumstances" and should be seen as a call for change.
"There was a complete disregard for thousands of others put in harm's way. This can never happen again," he said after the jury released the trial verdict. "If reform does not come from this, we should all be ashamed."
Michael Critchley, former top Chris Christie Aide Bridget Kelly's lawyer, said they will appeal the decision to the Third Circuit court and request a new trial, which would be decided by the trial judge within 10 days.
"I was very concerned at the time it was given and I'm still concerned," he said outside the courtroom.
Critchley noted Kelly's concern about the impact of the decision on her family. Kelly was seen crying on his shoulder outside the courthouse.
Former Port Authority executive Bill Baroni thanked his legal team in a statement made outside the courthouse and expressed his optimism and enthusiasm about appealing the decision in the Third Circuit.
Jurors were still secluded behind courthouse doors after the trial's conclusion
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Gov. Chris Christie said he was "saddened" by the choices made by his former top aide, Baroni, and former Livingston Mayor David Wildstein. He stressed that he did not authorize the lane closures, nor did he have prior knowledge of them.
"I will set the record stright in the coming days regarding the lies that were told by the media in the courtroom," he said in a statement to NBC News.
A jury found Kelly and Baroni guilty on all counts Friday morning. The two were charged with plotting to shut down a lane on the George Washington Bridge in an act of political retribution against Sokolich on Sept. 9, 2013.
They are both named in a nine-count indictment — each faces seven counts —alleging conspiracy, fraud and deprivation of civil rights. The most serious charge, wire fraud conspiracy, carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
