Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Chairman David Samson has resigned in the wake of a report that partly blames the agency's handling of the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal that has come to be known as "Bridgegate."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) announced the resignation at a March 28 press briefing that focused on the results of a $1-million, governor-sponsored report on the scandal. The nearly 350-page report exonerates the governor of having knowledge of or involvement in the September bridge closures that tied up traffic in Fort Lee, N.J., for four days, but the scandal has rocked his administration since it was revealed in January. Some say it dims prospects for a 2016 Christie bid for the presidency.

Samson is the fourth gubernatorial ally to depart in connection with Bridgegate. In January, David Wildstein, the authority's director of interstate capital projects, resigned, and Bridget Kelly, one of Christie's chiefs of staff, and Bill Stepian, his former campaign manager, were dismissed.

Law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher conducted the report, which says Wildstein and Kelly "knowingly participated in the plan … at least in part, for some ulterior motive," to target Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich (D); the motive "was not explicitly tied to [the mayor's] decision not to endorse the governor" for re-election, it says.

After reviewing the report, Samson told the governor he "completely supports the recommendations laid out for the port authority and that he believes that the best way to start a new year at the port authority is with new leadership," Christie said at the press conference. "In line with that belief, David tendered his resignation."

The move is the latest volley in Bridgegate. Earlier last month, a New Jersey lawmaker moved to replace Samson as well as PANYNJ commissioners Pat Schuber and Richard Bagger—all Christie's nominees. The bill, introduced on March 24 by Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), would replace those individuals with public policy groups' nominees.

PANYNJ declined to comment on any of the actions related to Bridgegate.