( CNN ) -- This is n't the first time critics have called New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie a bully . But now the man many consider a Republican presidential frontrunner is on the defensive , scrambling to distance himself from an erupting political scandal that threatens to tarnish his image well before the 2016 elections . E-mails that surfaced Wednesday suggest top Christie appointees orchestrated traffic jams on the George Washington Bridge as part of a political vendetta to punish a local mayor who would n't support him at the polls . Lane closures around approaches to the country 's busiest bridge snarled traffic for days in September in Fort Lee , New Jersey -- a problem the governor and his administration had originally blamed on a mishandled traffic study . In response to the e-mail firestorm , Christie said Wednesday that he was misled by staff . He called the conduct outrageous and said he knew nothing about it . `` This behavior is not representative of me or my administration in any way , '' he said , `` and people will be held responsible for their actions . '' Even if he had nothing to do with the traffic snarls , the allegations could have serious consequences for Christie , analysts said . `` There 's something about this that 's so petty and so vindictive and it feeds into this narrative that he 's a bully . ... He 's going to have to find some way to defuse this to prove he does n't run a shop like that , '' said CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen , a former adviser to several U.S. presidents . It 's a defining moment for Christie , CNN Chief National Correspondent John King said . And how he deals with the situation in the next two days -- from whether he fires anyone to what he says -- will be key . `` If he handles it decisively and then he sits down and calmly answers questions and does n't berate the reporters who ask them , then he has a chance to be a leader who dealt with a crisis and he moves on , '' King said . `` But if that perception starts to stick in , that 's not a presidential temperament . And that 's bad for him nationally in his perspective . It 's bad for him as he starts his new term in New Jersey . And it 's bad for him with the audience he needs to care about most politically long-term at the moment , and that 's the Republican base that he wants to make him their nominee . '' Does this mean Christie 's presidential ambitions are dashed ? `` Not necessarily , '' Oxford University historian Timothy Stanley wrote in an opinion piece for CNN.com . `` He 's a resourceful politician and it 's still many months before campaigning starts in earnest . But now his opponents have a stick to beat him with . Best of all , it 's an anti-government stick . If Republicans stand for anything right now , it 's opposing the ability of government to mess with the individual 's life -- and here we have a classic example of politicians taking revenge on each other at the expense of the average citizen . '' Political commentators from both sides of the aisle immediately recognized the potential for credibility questions , particularly around Christie 's explanations in recent months about the traffic jams in Fort Lee and previous comments rejecting suggestions of political mischief . `` He 's already cemented a narrative as something of a bully , '' said S.E . Cupp , a Republican political strategist and CNN `` Crossfire '' host . `` If this was happening in his administration , I do n't think it would shocking . '' But , she said , if it `` turns out he 's lying about what he knew or whether he ordered it -- that 's going to be the worst , the most damaging . Because his authenticity is his calling card . '' It 's important to ask how much Christie knew , Gergen said , but the reality might be more complicated . `` Sometimes the boss does not order something , '' Gergen said , describing the Nixon White House during the Watergate scandal . `` I do n't know whether Nixon ordered Watergate , but I can guarantee you that people who carried out Watergate thought that 's what he would have wanted . There 's an environment in which you find yourself sometimes on staff when things do n't have to be said . You sort of know . '' 'Time for some traffic problems ' The correspondence , subpoenaed by Democrats investigating the matter and spiced with tough Jersey political talk and expletives , is the most damaging evidence so far supporting their assertions the move was orchestrated because Fort Lee 's mayor , a Democrat , did n't endorse Christie 's re-election . Mayor Mark Sokolich said the traffic mess created serious hardships for commuters and other residents , and impacted public safety in his community . The exchanges began three weeks before access lanes to the bridge were closed , causing heavy traffic backups between September 9 and 13 , two months before Election Day . `` Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee , '' Bridget Anne Kelly , Christie 's deputy chief of staff for legislative and intergovernmental affairs , said in an e-mail to David Wildstein , then the highest-level appointee representing the state at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey , which operates the bridge connecting the two states . `` Got it , '' Wildstein replied . In another message about school buses with students onboard caught in the traffic jams , Wildstein writes , `` they are the children of Buono voters , '' apparently referring to Barbara Buono , Christie 's Democratic opponent in last November 's gubernatorial election . Those cited in the series of e-mails and text messages did not respond to requests for comment or to verify the communications . Wildstein , who has left his job , is expected to appear at a legislative hearing on Thursday . Read the e-mails . Democratic New Jersey Assembly Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski said the e-mails call into question the integrity of the governor 's office . Christie , he said , `` has a lot of explaining to do . '' `` I do not believe the governor called the Port Authority and said , 'Close some lanes . ' But I did say I hold him responsible for the atmosphere . Now finding that that atmosphere existed in his own office is what I find really troubling , '' Wisniewski said . Christie 's name did not appear in the e-mails , he added . Emergency services disrupted . Sokolich told CNN 's `` The Situation Room '' the e-mails suggested that political motives behind the lane closures have led him to believe that Christie is more clued-in than he 's admitted . `` I 'm rooting that the highest elected official in the state of New Jersey is n't involved . But I 'm beginning to question my judgment , '' Sokolich said . The mayor raised the issue of public safety being compromised . A letter by his emergency services coordinator , Paul Favia , on September 10 obtained by CNN cited `` new traffic patterns '' around the bridge 's toll plaza that were backing up traffic in Fort Lee . `` This new traffic pattern is causing unnecessary delays for emergency services to arrive on scene for medical emergencies , '' Favia said , citing one case in which paramedics rushing to aid an unconscious elderly woman suffering a heart attack were held up and had to meet the ambulance transporting the victim at the hospital instead of at the scene . She later died . Details surrounding the woman 's death have n't been released . But the situation could deepen Christie 's political woes , Gergen said . `` If a woman died here , '' Gergen said , `` he 's in deep , deep trouble . '' Other documents raise questions , too . Controversy tarnishes Christie 's image -- opinion . Democrats swarm . Christie is now campaigning for fellow GOP governors as chairman of the Republican Governors Association and is seen as prime political target for national Democrats . They rarely attacked him during his re-election campaign but are now becoming more aggressive with the bridge controversy unfolding . `` These revelations are troubling for any public official , but they also indicate what we 've come to expect from Governor Christie - when people oppose him , he exacts retribution . When people question him , he belittles and snidely jokes . And when anyone dares to look into his administration , he bullies and attacks , '' said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz , the Democratic National Committee chair , in a statement . A source close to Christie said `` there will probably be some sacrificial firing and that 'll be it . '' CNN 's John Crawley , Jake Tapper , Paul Steinhauser , Alan Silverleib , Stephanie Kotuby , and Dana Davidsen contributed to this report . Watch The Lead with Jake Tapper weekdays at 4pm ET . For the latest on The Lead with Jake Tapper click here .
NEW : Gergen : `` It feeds into this narrative that he 's a bully '' NEW : King : `` If that perception starts to stick in , that 's not a presidential temperament '' Top aides to Gov . Chris Christie communicate about lane closures to George Washington Bridge . Christie says he knew nothing about what transpired ; mayor says e-mails raise credibility questions .