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Former New Jersey Lawmaker: Chris Christie's Bridgegate Exposes The Modern 'American Hustle'

Former State Lawmaker: Chris Christie's Bridgegate Exposes The Modern 'American Hustle'
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Former New Jersey Assemblyman Louis Manzo (D) discussed his recently released book "Ruthless Ambition: The Rise and Fall of Chris Christie" with HuffPost Live on Tuesday.

Manzo, who served in the assembly from 2004 to 2008, said the Bridgegate scandal is just the beginning of Gov. Chris Christie's downfall.

Manzo had a notable run-in with Christie in 2009, when he was indicted by Christie, than a U.S. attorney, on corruption charges. (The charges were dropped by a federal judge.)

"He's buried the truth for so long, as I quote Emile Zola in the beginning of the book, is that you can only do that for so long, and eventually the truth will unearth itself," Manzo said.

Therefore, Bridgegate is "the beginning of the unearthing of all the truths ... [and] eventually someone will see these documents for what they are and want to go into this exploration."

Manzo stressed that "this [book] is the 'American Hustle' of our day -- immense, you know, corruption on the part of a government trying to facilitate a political campaign."

Watch a clip of the interview above.

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Before You Go

Chris Christie
Chris Christie(01 of27)
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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks during the American Conservative Union Conference March 6, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. The annual conference is a meeting of politically conservatives Americans. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(02 of27)
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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie during the American Conservative Union Conference March 6, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. The annual conference is a meeting of politically conservatives Americans. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(03 of27)
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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie leaves the podium after addressing the American Conservative Union Conference(CPAC) March 6, 2014 at National Harbor, Maryland. The conference is the largest annual gathering of conservative leaders and activists, and when there's no Republican in the White House, it's a must-attend cattle call for GOP presidential hopefuls looking to pass the conference's conservative litmus test. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(04 of27)
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NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - MARCH 06: Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) waves after speaking at the CPAC Conference, on March 6, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. The American Conservative Union (CPAC) held its 41st annual Conservative Political conference at the Gaylord International Hotel. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(05 of27)
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TRENTON, NJ - FEBRUARY 25: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers his budget address for fiscal year 2015 to the Legislature, February 25, 2014 at the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey. The $34.4 billion state budget proposes increased spending for schools and healthcare and also includes the largest -ever payment to the public worker pension fund. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(06 of27)
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TRENTON, NJ - FEBRUARY 25: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers his budget address for fiscal year 2015 to the Legislature, February 25, 2014 at the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey. The $34.4 billion state budget proposes increased spending for schools and healthcare and also includes the largest -ever payment to the public worker pension fund. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(07 of27)
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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 11: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at a Economic Club of Chicago luncheon moderated by Greg Brown, Chairman & CEO of Motorola Solutions on February 11, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Christie is in Chicago to help raise money for the Republican Governors Association that he chairs (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(08 of27)
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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 11: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) fields questions from Greg Brown (L), Chairman & CEO of Motorola Solutions. during an Economic Club of Chicago luncheon on February 11, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Christie is in Chicago to help raise money for the Republican Governors Association that he chairs. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(09 of27)
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KEANSBURG, NJ - FEBRUARY 04: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a press conference with families affected by Superstorm Sandy at a lounge in the New Point Comfort Fire Company on February 4, 2014 in Keansburg, New Jersey. Christie, whose governorship is being threatened by a scandal is facing federal investigation over use of Sandy funds. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(10 of27)
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KEANSBURG, NJ - FEBRUARY 04: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (L) walks to his car after a press conference with families affected by Superstorm Sandy at a lounge in the New Point Comfort Fire Company on February 4, 2014 in Keansburg, New Jersey. Christie, whose governorship is being threatened by a scandal is facing federal investigation over use of Sandy funds. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(11 of27)
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KEANSBURG, NJ - FEBRUARY 04: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (L) talks with Irene Neikem (R) a woman affected by Superstorm Sandy at a lounge in the New Point Comfort Fire Company on February 4, 2014 in Keansburg, New Jersey. Christie, whose governorship is being threatened by a scandal is facing federal investigation over use of Sandy funds. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(12 of27)
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EWING, NJ - FEBRUARY 3: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers questions during his radio program 'Ask the Governor' on February 3, 2014, in Ewing, New Jersey. During the program, Christie took questions from callers for the first time in more than three weeks amid claims that a political vendetta was the cause of lane closures on the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge that snarled traffic for days. (Photo by Mel Evans-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(13 of27)
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie attend a ceremony on February 1, 2014 at Times Square in New York where the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee leaders will join with city and state dignitaries to ceremoniously handoff hosting duties to the Arizona Host Committee, the day before Super Bowl XLVIII between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(14 of27)
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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks onstage at 'Howard Stern's Birthday Bash' presented by SiriusXM, produced by Howard Stern Productions at Hammerstein Ballroom on January 31, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for SiriusXM) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(15 of27)
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 29: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at a press conference announcing new objectives to crack down on human and sex trafficking throughout the state of New Jersey, inspired in part by the upcoming Super Bowl, on January 29, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Christie Spoke along side New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman and Cindy McCain, wife of Arizona Senator John McCain. The Super Bowl will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, this Sunday, February 2, 2014. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(16 of27)
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 29: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (6th L) speaks at a press conference announcing new objectives to crack down on human and sex trafficking throughout the state of New Jersey, inspired in part by the upcoming Super Bowl, on January 29, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Christie Spoke along side New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman and Cindy McCain, wife of Arizona Senator John McCain. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(17 of27)
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JERSEY CITY, NJ - JANUARY 27: Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie (L) and New York City Major Bill de Blasio attend the Super Bowl Kickoff Spectacular at Liberty State Park on January 27, 2014 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(18 of27)
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TRENTON, NJ - JANUARY 21: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2014 at the War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey. Christie begins his second term amid controversy surrounding George Washington Bridge traffic and Hurricane Sandy relief distribution. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(19 of27)
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TRENTON, NJ - JANUARY 21: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (L) is sworn in by Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court Stuart Rabner for his second term on January 21, 2014 at the War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey. Christie begins his second term amid controversy surrounding George Washington Bridge traffic and Hurricane Sandy relief distribution. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(20 of27)
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TRENTON, NJ - JANUARY 21: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (L) and wife Mary Pat look at the crowd after he was sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2014 at the War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey. Christie begins his second term amid controversy surrounding George Washington Bridge traffic and Hurricane Sandy relief distribution. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(21 of27)
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TRENTON, NJ - JANUARY 14: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie leaves after delivering the State of the State Address in the Assembly Chambers at the Statehouse on January 14, 2014 in Trenton, New Jersey. In his speech Christie briefly addressed the ongoing George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal saying his administration 'let down the people we are entrusted to serve' but also called for a longer school day for New Jersey students, and hinted that he will push for another round of pension reform. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(22 of27)
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TRENTON, NJ - JANUARY 14: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers the State of the State Address in the Assembly Chambers at the Statehouse on January 14, 2014 in Trenton, New Jersey. In his speech Christie briefly addressed the ongoing George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal saying his administration 'let down the people we are entrusted to serve' but also called for a longer school day for New Jersey students, and hinted that he will push for another round of pension reform. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Christie(23 of27)
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gestures during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. Christie has fired a top aide who engineered political payback against a town mayor, saying she lied. Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly is the latest casualty in a widening scandal that threatens to upend Christie's second term and likely run for president in 2016. Documents show she arranged traffic jams to punish the mayor, who didn't endorse Christie for re-election. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (credit:AP)
Chris Christie(24 of27)
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014 at the Statehouse in Trenton. N.J. Christie has fired a top aide who engineered political payback against a town mayor, saying she lied. Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly is the latest casualty in a widening scandal that threatens to upend Christie's second term and likely run for president in 2016. Documents show she arranged traffic jams to punish the mayor, who didn't endorse Christie for re-election. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (credit:AP)
Chris Christie(25 of27)
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addresses a gathering in Union City, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. A top aide to Christie is linked through emails and text messages to a seemingly deliberate plan to create traffic gridlock in a town at the base of the George Washington Bridge after its mayor refused to endorse Christie for re-election. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (credit:AP)
Chris Christie(26 of27)
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At Colin Powell elementary school in heavily Hispanic Union City, N.J., New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, ceremonially signs a bill that lowers tuition costs at public colleges for New Jersey students who lack lawful immigration status, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (credit:AP)
Chris Christie(27 of27)
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Rep. Frank LoBiondo, left, listens at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J., on Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, as Gov. Chris Christie endorses his re-election bid. LoBiondo represents the 2nd Congressional District, which includes the state's southernmost counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem. The 67-year-old, 10-term congressman, has voted to ban gay marriage and limit access to abortion, and he also faces potential fallout in his Democratic-leaning district for last year's government shutdown. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (credit:AP)
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