SO, BASICALLY, MSNBC MIGHT AS WELL HAVE JUST BROADCAST DIRTY LIMERICKS FOR SIX MONTHS: The Hill: Report: Bridge scandal probe finds no tie to Christie.

Federal officials on Thursday said they have not found information linking New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) to traffic lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, a move that could help Christie repair his political image if he decides to launch a 2016 White House bid.

While the Justice Department investigation into the 2013 lane closures that caused major traffic is ongoing, federal officials told NBC 4 New York they have so far uncovered no evidence Christie had knowledge of or directed the road closures.

“My experience with federal law enforcement is that once you reach critical mass if you don’t have it within nine months or so you’re not likely to ever get it,” former federal prosecutor Robert W. Ray, who is unaffiliated from the Christie investigation, told NBC 4.

Christie has repeatedly denied claims he knew about or was involved in the closures, which caused problems for drivers and Fort Lee, N.J., Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who didn’t endorse Christie’s reelection.

So much for this breathless Esquire story by Scott Raab and Lisa Brennan.