A top ally of embattled New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has resigned. David Samson served as head of the New Jersey-New York Port Authority, which oversaw the bridge whose lanes were shut down in an apparent act of political retaliation by Christie aides last year. Christie announced Samson’s departure at his first news conference since the Bridgegate scandal broke open in January. In his comments, Christie also defended using taxpayer money to fund a report by close associates that cleared him of wrongdoing.

Gov. Chris Christie: “He believes that the best way to start a new era at the Port Authority is with new leadership. In line with that belief, David tendered his resignation to me this afternoon, effective immediately. No matter who I chose to do this, questions would be raised by some quarters as to those people’s objectivity. My answer to that is, look at the report. We gave them unfettered, complete access to everyone in this government and allowed them to interview people multiple times, if they so desired, on multiple occasions in order to try to get to the bottom of things.”