Rep. Van Drew Hires Consultant Tied to Bridgegate Scandal for Campaign

Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey’s 2nd District, which encompasses Atlantic City and parts of Toms River, has employed a campaign consultant with ties to the notorious 2013 Bridgegate scandal. Van Drew is campaigning for his fifth term in office this year.

According to recent campaign finance reports, Van Drew’s election campaign has disbursed two payments of $5,000 each to Stepien Strategic Partners, a consultancy firm specializing in public relations for political candidates. These payments were recorded in October and December of 2025.

The consultancy is headed by Bill Stepien, a veteran Republican strategist who led Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. Following the election, Stepien propagated conspiracy theories about electoral fraud, a narrative supported by Van Drew as well, according to reports.

Stepien was at the helm of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s reelection campaign when a significant traffic disruption occurred in September 2013. Two lanes on the George Washington Bridge near Fort Lee were closed without notice, causing major traffic chaos and affecting emergency response operations. Initially, the closures were attributed to a so-called “traffic study” by the Christie administration.

However, an email from Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s then-deputy chief of staff, revealed a different story. Sent in August 2013 to David Wildstein, a Port Authority Board of Commissioners appointee, the email stated, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” Federal prosecutors later accused Kelly and other Christie aides of orchestrating the lane closures as a political vendetta against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing Christie’s reelection.

Following the exposure of this email in December 2013, Wildstein reportedly acknowledged his, Kelly’s, and Stepien’s involvement to Christie’s press secretary. Wildstein also suggested that Kelly and Stepien had a personal relationship. Soon after, Wildstein resigned.

Governor Christie responded by terminating Kelly’s position in January 2014 and severing ties with Stepien, including withdrawing his support for Stepien’s nomination as chair of the New Jersey Republican Party.

In 2015, Kelly and Bill Baroni, another Christie aide, faced indictments for their roles in the scandal and received prison sentences. However, the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned these convictions, ruling that the charges were not applicable, despite not contesting the factual basis of their actions.

Bill Stepien also managed Baroni’s campaign for the New Jersey State Assembly in 2003.

Van Drew, who is also a member of the House Oversight Committee responsible for probing political misconduct, will face a Democratic opponent in the upcoming June 2 primary for the 2026 election.