Compare The Three Separate Ledes On This Afternoon's New York Times "Bridgegate" Bombshell

For those keeping score at home, here are the three versions of the lede to this afternoon’s bombshell New York Times story about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s alleged knowledge of the George Washington Bridge closings when they were happening. And the “evidence” that reportedly exists to support that claim.

Lede #1 was on the story first posted at 3:40 PM. Lede #2 appeared about an hour later. Lede #3 is on the story at press time (5:30 PM).

Here is the text of the different versions:

1) "The former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening, and that he had the evidence to prove it."

2) "The former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening."

3) "The former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge, central to the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, said on Friday that 'evidence exists' the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening."