(CNN) -- Give him a position at the top of the agency; he's a good friend of the governor. That's how David Wildstein was introduced to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2010, according to a former employee with extensive knowledge of the agency's hiring practices. Soon after, Wildstein was named the director of Interstate Capital Projects, a title that previously had not existed at the bi-state agency, setting in motion a career that would eventually place the former political blogger at the center of the lane closures controversy at the George Washington Bridge. Wildstein catapulted into the national spotlight with his response to the infamous e-mail from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's aide: "Time for some traffic problems in Ft. Lee," Bridget Kelly wrote. Wildstein responded, "Got it."
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David Wildstein was introduced to Port Authority as good friend of Gov. Chris Christie
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Wildstein was named to executive level post in agency soon after
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Christie has characterized Wildstein as someone he barely knew
Those current and former employees said people were careful about what they said when Wildstein was in the room, always assuming it would get back to @placeholder.