After a dramatic seven-week trial, two former close aides of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie were convicted on all counts in a scandal and federal case that came to be known as Bridgegate. Zack Fink filed the following report.

NEWARK, N.J. - It started with a traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge more than three years ago. It ended Friday with the convictions of Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni, who were both found guilty of engaging in political payback against the mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey.

When she worked for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Kelly wrote a now-infamous email, saying it was "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." Prosecutors say the lanes were closed on the bridge because the city's mayor refused to endorse the governor's re-election bid.

During their trial, both Baroni and Kelly insisted they were acting at Christie's behest.

Kelly's lawyer, Michael Critchley, was asked if he was surprised by Friday's verdict.

"Absolutely," Critchley said. "Surprised to the extent that my client was innocent walking in there. I thought we presented the case to display her innocence, and I'm obviously surprsied and disappinted at the verdict that was returned."

Kelly acted along with Baroni, who was Christie's appointee at the bi-state Port Authority, which oversees the George Washington Bridge

"I am innocent of these charges, and I am very, very looking forward to this appeal," Baroni said.

A third person, David Wildstein, pleaded guilty to conspiring to shut down access lanes to the bridge and cooperated with prosecutors.

Christie wasn't charged in the case. At times, it certainly felt like he was on trial in Newark.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman was asked repeatedly why Christie was never charged.

"At the time, we indicted only the people we believed we had evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, which, as you know, is the constitutional standard, evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict in this courthouse," Fishman said.

In a statement Friday, Christie said, "I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments, and had no role in authorizing them. No believable evidence was presented to contradict that fact."

Christie, who has been campaigning hard for Donald Trump, added that he will be addressing the matter in more detail soon.