17he federal prosecutor who helped convict former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is being asked to investigate the apparent political payback scandal involving New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration.

The New Jersey Assembly tapped former assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar, who helped convict Blagojevich of corruption, as special counsel Wednesday.

The special counsel will advise a legislative committee investigating a plot that shut down lanes to the George Washington Bridge for four days in September.

The shutdown caused massive traffic jams in the town of Fort Lee. The plot apparently was hatched as a political vendetta, possibly against the town’s Democratic mayor for not endorsing the Republican governor’s re-election.

Four members of Christie’s circle have been fired or resigned.

Christie, a possible 2016 presidential candidate, has apologized.

(AP)