"The messages do not directly implicate Christie, but they contradicted his assertions that the closings were not punitive and that his staff was not involved."
it's never good when it's a roll-out of explanations and denials. Step 1, we didn't do it. Step 2, we did it but nobody told me about it.
Step 3 usually comes once this aide points fingers or reveals text messages from Christie's right hand man ordering it. Then it's him falling on the blame so Christie can still run for President.
Step 4, well, that's when most swing voters figure he was in on it. libs blame him 100%, and his supporters swear up and down it's all a big lib conspiracy.
in the end, this probably won't stop him from running from president. His uber-liberal past won't hurt him in the primary with all the conservatives splitting the vote. Will it mean the base doesn't bother voting for him on election day? Ask President Romney or President mccain.