| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by Clean Energy Action Now! (CLEAN) | Good Monday morning! With Sen. Menendez’s explosive indictment, has the New Jersey Democratic establishment finally reached its tolerance for alleged corruption? Most major New Jersey elected officials and party leaders have called on the senior senator to resign, with some notable exceptions. I think that’s in part because the indictment is far worse than anyone anticipated, and even Menendez doesn’t have the clout in his home state for Democrats to risk what should be a safe seat by defending him. The indictment is, as one party operative told me, “horrific.” "There’s so many allegations that I don’t have room to go into most of them. It’s way worse than the 2015 Menendez indictment. But there’s another big reason I think Democrats aren’t sticking with Menendez. This time, there’s a Democratic governor who would almost certainly appoint a Democratic successor to the seat." But that may be moot, because Menendez has said he won’t resign. In fact, he has a press conference today where according to a report he’s going to reiterate that he’s still running for reelection . If Menendez did resign it would be harder to raise money for his legal fund, which he’ll clearly need a lot of. Whether Menendez can win reelection without Democratic Party support — hell, even with it — is another matter. . Rep. Andy Kim has stepped out to challenge Menendez in the Democratic primary. In my estimation, Kim knows party leaders further north would likely be more inclined to back U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherill (D-11th Dist.) or Josh Gottheimer (D-5th Dist.) for the seat and is trying to get out ahead of it. He also beat most of his other colleagues in calling for Menendez to resign, even if by minutes. Menendez is not in a strong political position. If unknown, unfunded and unsupported Lisa McCormick got nearly 40 percent of the vote against him in the 2018 Democratic primary, following a mistrial and far less serious corruption charges, how could Menendez expect to win another primary without establishment support and under a much darker cloud? The only way I see is with a field so crowded that he slips by with a relatively small plurality. Menendez, defiant as usual, claims that he’s once again the target of overzealous prosecutors going after him because they can’t tolerate a Hispanic kid from Hudson County in the august halls of the Senate. Few are buying that. I watched Menendez’s last trial very closely. Prosecutors had a weak case, and weren’t helped by the McDonnell precedent the Supreme Court set a year before it. But even though prosecutors couldn’t prove a quid pro quo, Menendez’s conduct in doing favor after favor for Salomon Melgen while Melgen gave him big donations, private jet flights and Dominican vacations was notable. Melgen wasn’t even his constituent. This time, the allegations are far more serious. In particular, it's attention-grabbing that the allegations show that he provided sensitive information to the Egyptian government and even tried to grease arms sales. Between this and Menendez’s previous corruption case, I see a pattern. Menendez has never been rich. He makes his $174,000 Senate salary and some rental property he owns. For a normal person, that’s a good life. Even in rich New Jersey, at least for a person not currently raising a family. But in Menendez’s world, most people he hobnobs with are at least millionaires with access to luxuries and amenities a mere upper-middle-class New Jerseyan couldn’t dream of. Menendez had the power, but not the money. Prosecutor allege he used the former to get the latter. By the way, where’s Cory Booker on this? He can’t stay silent forever. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “How much is a kilo of gold worth” — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez to Google, according to his latest indictment HASHTAG OF THE DAY: #YOUCANTBEATOURMEAT — 1911 SmokeHouse BBQ, a Trenton haunt with an outpost at Newark Liberty International Airport made famous by David Brooks HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Paul Moriarty, Al Komjathy, Gene Chebra WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule | | | | A message from Clean Energy Action Now! (CLEAN): Gas companies don’t want NJ consumers to know: Efficient electric heat pumps and appliances are healthier and can save you money. Switching to electric can reduce energy bills by up to 41%. Americans bought more electric heat pumps than gas furnaces every month in 2022. Yet here in NJ, the gas lobby is working hard to mislead you. Get the real story about how going electric improves comfort, delivers cleaner air, and saves money. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
OAG! OMG! — New Jersey Attorney General's office plans inquiry into Bob Menendez allegations, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The New Jersey Attorney General’s office intends to launch an internal inquiry into the allegations that Sen. Bob Menendez intervened in a criminal prosecution on behalf of an associate in exchange for a luxury car, Attorney General Matt Platkin announced Friday. The alleged intervention happened around 2019 — before Platkin took control of the department — according to the indictment unsealed by federal prosecutors on Friday. Gurbir Grewal, who is now a division director in the Securities and Exchange Commission, was attorney general at the time
#NOTALLMATTS — “Matt O’Donnell didn’t comply with subpoena, faces contempt charges, judges said,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Matthew O’Donnell, the state’s cooperating witness in an itsy-bitsy corruption sting operation, has violated a subpoena ordering him to turn over billing records for his now-defunct Morristown law firm, O’Donnell McCord. Superior Court Judge Tober told O’Donnell and two of his attorneys, Eric Kanefsky and Thomas Calcagni, to appear in court within the next three weeks to determine whether they will face contempt charges. O’Donnell was ‘deemed to have willfully failed to comply with the validly issued subpoena and the Order of the court,’ Tober’s order stated. Tober had previously rejected a bid by Deputy Attorney General Eric Cohen to quash the subpoena.” —Gopal: “The NJ Legislature must weigh in on electric vehicle mandate. Here's why” —“Adam Taliaferro joins J&J as director, state and community engagement” | | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | Biden Time | |
HUDSON’S GONNA HUDSON — ‘A rock star in Hudson County': Menendez’s power base stays neutral after bribery indictment, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The federal corruption charges against Sen. Bob Menendez unveiled Friday released a torrent of resignation calls from New Jersey’s top Democrats. But at least one influential player plans to stay neutral for now: The Hudson County Democratic Organization, Menendez’s longtime base of power. “Remember, people don’t realize that Senator Menendez is like a rock star in Hudson County,” county Democratic chair Anthony P. Vainieri Jr. said in an interview Saturday. “We have a lot of people who admire him and look up to him and support him. I haven’t received any phone calls from any constituents yet asking for his resignation. We have a large Hispanic community in [the] county and they love him.” Vainieri said as much earlier Saturday morning during a remote meeting with other New Jersey Democratic county chairs, according to three people familiar with his remarks.
—Menendez unravels: Andy Kim will run against him AS A CHILD, MENENDEZ MISUNDERSTOOD A MOTIVATIONAL POSTER THAT SAID ‘GO FOR THE GOLD!’ — “Gold bars for Menendez. Torture for jailed Egyptians,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “Look past the bars of gold, the envelopes stuffed with cash, and the shiny new Mercedes parked in the garage of Sen. Robert Menendez. Bad as that stench is, it’s far from the worst of it. For that, you need to cast an eye to the torture chambers run by Egypt’s military dictatorship, where security goons rape women to pressure their husbands in the next cell, where they clamp metal grips to men’s genitals and shock them into submission, where they hang teens by their arms, tied behind their back, and leave them until their shoulders dislocate. That’s the dictatorship that Menendez has been helping since 2018, according to the federal indictment dropped Friday. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he greased military sales to these thugs and kept them informed of his progress in text messages , prosecutors say. He passed on secret information that could endanger people working at the U.S. embassy. He even helped them draft and edit letters to other senators, while keeping his own fingerprints secret. And when his co-conspirators met with him in his Washington office, the indictment says, Menendez was careful to first dismiss his staffers, and committee staffers.” — “Going back to the Union City of young Bob Menendez” MOST UNPOPULAR GOVERNOR IN MODERN HISTORY TAKES HIMSELF OFF THE TABLE — zChristie slams Menendez but rules out Senate run, by POLITICO's Kierra Frazier: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie condemned Sen. Bob Menendez’s actions Sunday after the New Jersey senator was indicted last week on bribery charges. “There is no way that any public official has any legal, or plausible, or ethical explanation for having $500,000 in cash stuffed in jackets and envelopes throughout their home, gold bars that have the fingerprints, DNA of someone who you were attempting to fix the system for,” Christie said on NBC’s “Meet the Press." ... “I had a chance to appoint myself to the United States Senate, Kristen, in 2013 when [Sen.] Frank Lautenberg passed away and I was governor,” Christie said. “If I didn’t appoint myself to the United States Senate, the easiest way to get there, I sure as heck am not going to run for it.” —Stile: “Can Bob Menendez survive? The politics and evidence are very different this time” —“Edgewater developer indicted along with Menendez in corruption scheme. Who is Fred Daibes?” —House drama keeps McCarthy from fundraising for Kean in critical New Jersey district | | | | A message from Clean Energy Action Now! (CLEAN):   | | | | | LOCAL | |
OCEAN GATE GATE — “Ex-Ocean Gate mayor pleads guilty to ‘pattern of official misconduct;’ jailtime expected,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Erik Larsen: “Former Ocean Gate Mayor Paul J. Kennedy pleaded guilty Friday to a pattern of official misconduct and is expected to serve at least two years in state prison before he is eligible for parole, announced Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. As part of a plea agreement, Kennedy, 68, will also be disqualified from ever serving in public office again, will lose his $52,322-a-year county government job as a carpenter and will never again be able to hold public employment in the state of New Jersey, according to a statement from the Prosecutor’s Office.”
HE COULD RENAME JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS THE GOLAN HEIGHTS — “Governor who quit politics amid scandal eyes a new job: Mayor,” by The New York Times’ Tracy Tully: “James E. McGreevey, a former New Jersey governor who resigned two decades ago in scandal, has built his career on reinvention. So much so that when he enters a classroom filled with newly freed felons hoping to make the most of their own second chance, they are not sure what to call him. ‘Governor!’ the instructor bellows. ‘Jim — come on, guys — it’s just Jim!’ he counters affably as he fist-bumps several men enrolled in a post-prison career training program he founded and now leads as executive director. Mr. McGreevey, 66, has tried on other titles since he quit politics in 2004 after announcing to his second wife and to the world that he was gay and had had an affair with [Golan Cipel] who worked for him … And now Mr. McGreevey, a Democrat who once was thought to have the White House in his sights, is making plans to do what he had said he would not: re-enter politics.” — “Jersey City councilman, two community leaders call for public safety director to resign after video release of fatal police shooting,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “A Jersey City councilman and two community leaders are calling for city Public Safety Director James Shea to resign after they viewed video of the deadly police shooting of an emotionally disturbed man last month. The calls by Bergen Lafayette Councilman Frank Gilmore, along with Lincoln High Principal Chris Gadsden and Jersey City Anti-Violence Coalition director Pamela Johnson, come after the state Attorney General’s Office Friday released video and audio recordings of the Aug. 27 fatal shooting of Andrew “Drew” Washington, 52, in the doorway of his Randolph Avenue apartment” —“NJ AG's office releases body cam footage of fatal Jersey City police shooting” PEOPLE OF THE STATE. JOIN HANDS. STOP A BOMB TRAIN. BOMB TRAIN — “Plan to bring ‘bomb trains’ through N.J. towns hits another roadblock,” by NJ Advance Media’s Nyah Marshall: “A plan to build New Jersey’s first terminal for transporting liquefied natural gas — a project that critics say is a threat to surrounding communities and the environment — has been hit with another federal roadblock. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration suspended a Trump-era rule earlier this month that would have allowed liquified natural gas to be transposed by rail, according to the Federal Register. The suspension will impede New Fortress Energy, a New York based company, from moving forward with a plan to build a liquified natural gas export terminal at a port in Gloucester County on the Delaware River. Critics say the terminal would mean polluting, combustible “bomb trains” would travel across dozens of South Jersey and Pennsylvania towns daily. However, the decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation is only a temporary suspension until federal officials make a final decision on whether liquified natural gas, known as LNG, can move by rail.” LOSE AC — “Atlantic City Housing Authority can't find board records,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Alison Burdo: “Nearly three dozen resolutions that were approved by the Atlantic City Housing Authority Board of Commissioners in 2021 and 2022 have never been made publicly available, potentially defying the state’s sunshine laws and serving as another example of a lack of transparency at the agency. The 32 missing resolutions include actions that awarded contracts to outside vendors; approved emergency services at two communities, including repairs to the underground hot water system at Stanley Holmes Village; granted rent abatement to some Stanley Holmes residents; established an accounts payable policy and a records retention policy; and approved the corrective actions plan concerning its public housing financial assessment score. Three of the missing resolutions from 2021 authorized the authority to pay its monthly bills, including compensating contractors.” —“Orange Loop turning around Atlantic City 'dead zone'” “Atkins keeps Roselle Democratic chairmanship after second leadership vote” —“What if the road from Tuckerton to Atlantic City was built?” —“Former Parsippany assistant principal makes claims of discrimination, retaliation” | | | | Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
UNIVERSITY SENATE NOT SWAYED BY FOOTBALL TEAM’S 3-1 RECORD — “Rutgers University votes 'no confidence' in school president,” by WNYC’s Michelle Bocenegra: “The Rutgers University Senate delivered a vote of no confidence in President Jonathan Hollway on Friday, passing the resolution with a vote of 89-47 after months of controversy and a faculty strike this spring. Though the resolution against Holloway is nonbinding, it is an official rebuke from the University Senate, which is made up of faculty, staff, students and alumni. Members who spoke in favor of the resolution on Friday accused Holloway of failing to uphold a tradition of shared governance with the senate, despite attempts to get him to engage on issues critical to the school community … The resolution details a slate of grievances against Holloway, including allegations that he threatened to have striking workers arrested”
A BIGGER SCANDAL THAN MENENDEZ — “‘I screwed up’: David Brooks addresses airport tweet that got him roasted into oblivion,” by Mediaite’s Michael Luciao: “Brooks was a panelist on Friday’s PBS Newshour, where guest host William Brangham asked the columnist about his misfire … Here was Brooks’ response: “Well, first it started out hatched in my mind as a joke ’cause if you looked at what I was eating, it was bourbon and a very fattening hamburger and fries. So, I can’t afford to make bad lifestyle choices. But the problem with the tweet, which I wrote so stupidly, was it made it seem like I was oblivious to something that is blindingly obvious – that an upper-middle-class journalist having a bourbon at an airport is a lot different from a family living paycheck-to-paycheck. And when I’m getting sticker shock, it’s like an inconvenience. When they’re getting sticker shock, it’s a disaster. And so, I was insensitive. I screwed up. I should not have written that tweet. I probably should not write any tweets. But–” —“Founder of N.J. charter school group replaced by former reporter” —“Oh pork! See what it took to be crowned pork roll eating world champ” | | | | A message from Clean Energy Action Now! (CLEAN): What’s the real story behind fossil fuel industry efforts to prevent NJ consumers’ switch to clean, safe, affordable electric heating and cooling?
Profits — plain and simple.
Gas companies know going electric is better for your health and your wallet.
But they want to squeeze every cent from consumers by lobbying legislators to limit free choice in energy sources and leave you stuck with outdated, unhealthy fossil fuel options.
Here’s the truth:
● Average NJ gas customers can save up to 41% yearly on utilities by switching to electric.
● Going all-electric and improving your insulation can save you nearly 70% per year.
● Nationally, gas appliances have been attributed to 12.7% of childhood asthma cases.
● Next year, New Jerseyans can receive up to $8,000 for a heat pump and up to $840 for an induction stove.
Legislators can put consumers first and stand up to gas industry lies and misinformation. Learn how. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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