Ex-prosecutor who claims Christie had allies' charges dropped wins battle for records

In the latest chapter of a lengthy, expensive court battle, a former Hunterdon County assistant prosecutor who claims he was fired for objecting to the dismissal of indictments against supporters of Gov. Chris Christie has been granted access to secret documents that he says will help prove his case.

A state Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that the state must provide the former prosecutor, Bennett Barlyn, access to sealed grand jury transcripts related to the indictments.

The matter has cost taxpayers nearly $2 million in legal fees as the state sought to block the release of the documents, according to figures obtained by the Associated Press.

Barlyn, who filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the state, has been fighting for the documents for more than a year, saying they will help him confirm his allegations that he was booted for political reasons in 2010.

He said Thursday he was "very gratified" by the judge's decision to release the documents.

"I hope that New Jersey citizens recognize that the administration's efforts to keep these records from being released is actually evidence of its ongoing misconduct in connection with the dismissal of (the indictments)," Barlyn said. "There's no other way to look at it at this point."