Christie aide speaks to grand jury in New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A longtime aide to Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has given testimony to a federal grand jury in an investigation of traffic jams created near the George Washington Bridge in a political payback scandal.

Attorney Anthony Iacullo (eye-uh-COO'-yoh) tells ABC News his client Michael Drewniak is not a target of the investigation but was in federal court to answer questions Friday. Christie's press secretary received emails about the traffic-blocking plot after it was carried out in September.

Iacullo won't say what was discussed in the grand jury. But he tells ABC News (http://abcn.ws/1he0VHQ ) he received assurances Drewniak would be considered a witness throughout the proceedings.

U.S. attorney's office spokeswoman Rebekah Carmichael says she can't comment on the ongoing investigation.

Iacullo and Drewniak haven't returned messages seeking comment. Christie has called the lane closings "inexplicably stupid."