Gov. Chris Christie's office says there's no mystery over the whereabouts of the cellphone sought by defendants in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case.

A spokesman said Friday that Christie's attorney has the phone. Previously, Christie had said it was "in the hands of the government" as far as he knew.

A judge ruled Thursday the defendants can't get the phone, but they said that they would still seek to get it before trial.

Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly are charged with creating traffic jams near the bridge to punish Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat, for not endorsing Christie, a Republican. They've pleaded not guilty.

They claim the phone is relevant because the governor and an aide exchanged texts during bridge officials' testimony to a New Jersey legislative committee in 2013.