His presidential ambitions on the line, Gov. Chris Christie fired a top aide and apologized on Thursday, saying he is "embarrassed and humiliated" by the politically motivated lane closures on the George Washington Bridge that caused a traffic nightmare for days.

Christie said he would go to Fort Lee later Thursday to apologize personally to Democratic Mayor Mark Sokolich and the residents.

Initially, Sokolich said at a news conference said Christie shouldn't come to town, saying the trip would be disruptive to school children, but soon relented.

Also Thursday, the U.S. Attorney's Office of New Jersey confirmed to CNBC that it was beginning a preliminary inquiry into the case "to determine whether a federal law was implicated."

At a news conference in Trenton, Christie said he was unaware until Wednesday of emails and texts that showed a top staff in his office had been involved in the scheme to disrupt Fort Lee, whose mayor didn't endorse Christie in his bid for re-election as Republican governor. The lanes were closed, supposedly for a traffic study, for four days in September, two months before the November election.


Play Video
Ft. Lee's mayor responds to possible Christie visit
The mayor of Fort Lee responds to Governor Christie's suggestion that he plans to visit Fort Lee today.
As part of his presidential hopes, Christie had been trying to show he could avoid petty political disputes and work with Democrats, as he did with President Barack Obama in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The messages were published Wednesday. Earlier, Christie had said he was unaware of the decision to close lanes on the bridge as part of a traffic study.

'Embarrassed and humiliated'
"I am embarrassed and humiliated by the conduct of some of the people on my team. There's no doubt in mind that the conduct that they exhibited is completely unacceptable and showed a lack of respect for their appropriate role of government and for the people that we're trusted to serve," Christie told reporters.

At the news conference, he announced the firing of Bridget Anne Kelly, as deputy chief of staff. Her email "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" served as evidence that Christie's office was involved in the revenge closure.


Phil Stilton | Getty Images
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly (R).
He has also asked his former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, to remove his name from being state GOP chairman and to withdraw his consultancy with the Republican Governors Association, which Christie now chairs.
Christie also said he will hold one-on-one discussions with other members of his senior staff to see if there is additional information he needs to know.
(Read more: Mayor: Christie should apologize for bridge scandal)
"I take this action today because it's my job. I am responsible for what happened. I am sad to report to the people of New Jersey that we fell short, fell short of the expectations that we created, for excellence in this office," he said, adding that he was stunned by the "abject stupidity" that was shown.

"Ultimately, I am responsible for what happens on my watch—the good and the bad. And when mistakes are made, I have to own up to them and take the action that I believe is necessary in order to remediate them," he added.

Should Gov. Christie resign over "Bridgegate"?
퍼온글 cnbc news 에서

김 태우 퇴근길에 불법 공사 가장해 길막아 놓고 젊은이들 투표 참여도 줄여 당선돼도
문제 없었고 국정원이 여당과 짜고 불법 선거를 자행해도 되려 문제 제기하는 사람들
쫀쫀하다하는 통큰 한국궁민 본받지 않고 왠 호들값?