Pardon the hit and run here, but this is all there is to this breaking story thus far:
New Jersey election law regulators on Tuesday said that Gov. Chris Christie's re-election campaign committee can use unspent funds—and raise more—to pay its legal fees and expenses to comply with document subpoenas in the investigation of last fall's George Washington Bridge access lane closures that crippled traffic.
http://www.njlawjournal.com/...
Update (2:24 p.m.) - Here is the link to the request from Christie's counsel, and the letter from Patton Boggs explaining why this request should be granted.
http://www.elec.state.nj.us/...
The letter starts at page 4 of this linked .pdf file:
http://www.elec.state.nj.us/...
Decision to follow.
Update (2:31 p.m.) - Quote from ELEC (Election Law Enforcment Commission) Chairman, Ron DeFilippis:
“I think it’s critical … that all the information regarding what occurred in September get to the authorities as quickly as possible and get to the public as quickly as possible so everyone can get the answers....“Our job is to shed sunlight on this process.”
The only way they could justify this is by finding that this is a legitimate expense because Christie is not yet the subject of a criminal investigation. ELEC has never allowed the use of campaign funds to fight criminal charges.