| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Thursday morning! Having cancer, or taking care of a loved one with cancer, is difficult and emotionally-trying. I’ve been there, and chances are you have, too. So my sympathy goes out to Nadine and Bob Menendez, after we learned Thursday that Nadine has breast cancer. That’s the previously undisclosed health issue that led to Judge Sidney Stein severing her criminal trial from her husband’s. “We ask the press and the public to give her the time, space and privacy to deal with this challenging health condition as she undergoes surgery and recovery,” Menendez said in a statement. That’s a reasonable ask. But how does that square the senator’s defense strategy of blaming his wife for keeping him “in the dark” about the gifts she received, effectively throwing her under the bus? Menendez initially tried to keep his wife-blaming defense strategy from the public, arguing it could taint the jury pool. So it may not be a coincidence that his office put this piece of information out the day after the jury was seated and told not to read news coverage of the case. I’d like to know how Nadine Menendez feels about this. Is this part of an agreed-upon defense strategy between the spouses? Micah Rasmussen wondered as much. And that sounds possible. Because if I threw my wife under the bus shortly after she found out she had cancer, she’d soon be on trial for my murder. And what sensible juror would vote to convict her? TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at MFriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “For God’s sake, how can he be getting classified briefs on the two nations that are at the center of the Gaza negotiations? It’s wild.” — Sen. John Fetterman on Sen. Bob Menendez. Fetterman said his own informal dress “really activated a lot of my colleagues” more than the charges against Menendez. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Andrew Zwicker, John Hogan, Lawrence Bathgate, Jun Choi, Cort Adelman, Ginamarie Cordero. Saturday for Vin Gopal, Alexander P. Krasutsky IV, Josh Lederman, Sue Livio. Sunday for Julie Daurio, Jenny Davis, Victor Polce, Tom Scrivo WHERE’S MURPHY? — Leaving for Maryland this morning for a Democratic Governors Association conference. Back Saturday.
| | | | A message from Amazon: When Maydeen started at Amazon’s Edison, New Jersey fulfillment center she thought it would just be a temporary job. Now, “it’s become a career. Since starting at Amazon I’ve been promoted five times,” she said. As the largest job creator in the U.S. Amazon is committed to helping their employees thrive with benefits starting on day one and free, on-the-job skills training programs. See how Amazon supports employees. | | | |  | MENENDEZ CORRUPTION TRIAL | | WE COME BEARING GRIFTS — Businesspeople do not dispute giving gold, cash to Menendezes — but say they were ‘gifts’, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han and Ry Rivard: "One of New Jersey’s most prominent real estate developers will not dispute that he gave cash and gold bars to Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife, a defense attorney in their corruption trial said Thursday. He will dispute the reasons for giving the senator the cash and gold, though … Attorneys for the developer, Fred Daibes, and another co-defendant, Wael Hana … said during their separate opening statements Thursday that the government is trying to criminalize gifts among longtime friends. They said that the government was misinterpreting the gifts as bribes — and they said there is no evidence proving the gifts were more than that … Federal prosecutors then called their first witness: FBI special agent Aristotelis Kougemitros, who led a June 2022 search of the Menendezes’ home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. After some dry testimony about the basics of the FBI’s search process, prosecutors pulled out some of the gold bars and passed them around to each member of the jury. Kougemitros’ testimony was also designed to undermine Menendez’s attempt to point the finger at his wife, Nadine Menendez. On Wednesday, Menendez’s defense attorney had said gold was found in what he described as Nadine’s closet — and that the senator had his own closet. But Kougemitros said — and photos from the search showed — that one gold bar was found on the floor inside the same closet as a Navy blazer that contained handwritten notes on Senate Democratic Caucus stationery from two months earlier." HAPPENING TODAY — The defense's examination of Kougemitros continues. SO DAIBES (YEAH) DAIBES (YEAH) YOU WANNA ROLL IN MY MERCEDES?— “Jose Uribe flipped. Here's why he bribed Bob Menendez with a new Mercedes,” by The Record’s Jean Rimbach: “It’s one of the more startling accusations in the federal bribery case against Sen. Bob Menendez — that he traded his influence for a new Mercedes-Benz convertible for his wife after she totaled her own Mercedes in a crash that killed a pedestrian. The North Jersey businessman who admitted making concealed payments on the $60,000 luxury car, Jose D. Uribe … is the only one to flip — pleading guilty to seven counts, including conspiracy to commit bribery and tax evasion — making him a likely key witness at the trial … The Mercedes was allegedly a payoff in exchange for the senator's aiding two of Uribe’s associates, including Menendez’s disruption of the prosecution of a person the indictment does not name. But a NorthJersey.com review of court and other records shows how the timing and other details in the indictment match the case of Elvis Parra, a Closter resident who was charged with insurance fraud related to a trucking company he owned.”
| | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | DISHONOR — NJ Trooper with 'Blood Honor' tattoo fired following state investigation, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: “A State Trooper with a prominent neck tattoo that read “Blood Honor” was fired following a state investigation that substantiated “visible tattoos associated with groups espousing racist ideology,” according to the Attorney General’s Office. The Trooper, Jason Dare, had also fired a shotgun through his home’s front window and entered a vacant residence in Pennsylvania without permission, according to police records posted online … The neck tattoo wasn’t the only thing that allegedly connected Dare to hate groups. Internet users combed through his social media and discovered an Iron Cross tattoo and a pitbull head tattoo that appeared identical to a symbol of the Pennsylvania-based white supremacist group Keystone United, as well as an image of Dare wearing a tank top featuring a skull wearing a helmet that resembles those worn by German soldiers in World War II. Dare’s Nov. 27, 2023 firing was published in the annual Major Discipline Report for law enforcement but went unnoticed … “The vast majority of law enforcement officers work hard to build and nurture trust with the communities we serve,” Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a statement. “When members of law enforcement are perceived to be associated with groups espousing hate or discrimination, it destroys that trust and jeopardizes the safety of our residents and officers. We remain committed to upholding the laws and policies that demonstrate our dedication to trust-building, to valuing our diverse communities, and to protecting all residents.” —“Advocates for OPRA urge Gov. Phil Murphy to veto bill that dismantles transparency” —"NJ senate committee passes bill for NJCRC to regulate ‘intoxicating hemp'" —“Altered votes on public records bill draw criticism” —“Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote? Some N.J. lawmakers think so”
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | | GAZA REBUKE— Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Frank Pallone helped pass a GOP-bill rebuking the Biden administration’s decision to withhold certain weapons from Israel on Thursday, despite Democratic leadership advising members to vote against it. The bill condemns the White House’s decision to withhold certain weapons in the war in Gaza as President Joe Biden faces backlash from the left. Rep. Donald Norcross was the only member to not vote. The rest of the delegation voted down party lines: Republican Reps. Jeff Van Drew, Chris Smith and Tom Kean Jr. voted in favor, while Democratic Reps. Andy Kim, Rob Menendez, Bill Pascrell, Mikie Sherrill and Bonnie Watson Coleman voted against it.— Mia McCarthy THE HOUSE OF MURPH— “Carol Or Phil? Shared Murphy name at center of dispute over NJ-3 mailer,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “A mailer sent out by Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel)’s congressional campaign features Murphy at a Planned Parenthood rally surrounded by signs declaring ‘Women for Murphy’ – but those signs were for Gov. Phil Murphy, not for the assemblywoman. The signs were taken at a rally in 2018, when Carol and Phil Murphy were in their first terms … In the previous year’s election, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey had endorsed both Murphys … But Planned Parenthood has made no endorsement in this year’s primary election for the 3rd congressional district, in which Carol Murphy is one of five candidates running.” —“McIver’s NJ-10 petitions under scrutiny for all sharing one circulator” —“‘Where’s Bob?’ Meet the cast of New Jersey senator’s corruption trial. From gold bars to Waldo” —“Three GOP challengers debate on Trump, Ukraine, flooding in bid to oppose Mikie Sherrill” —“Top Democrats give Rob Menendez an 11th-hour assist” —Snowflack: “Two wrongs don’t make a White” —“Cops arrest rifle-toting, camouflage-clad man seen walking around [Clifton] neighborhood”
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | | | LOCAL | | WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH VOTER FRAUD? — “Law enforcement opens probe into Allenhurst, Deal and Loch Arbour elections,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “State and federal law enforcement have opened an investigation into allegations of election fraud in Allenhurst, a wealthy oceanfront community in Monmouth County with a fast-growing Syrian Jewish community … Election officials became concerned over a voter registration surge after the number of eligible voters increased by nearly 75% in about one year. The 597 registered voters are 26% higher than the borough’s population … The New Jersey Globe has also learned that the probe also includes elections in Deal and Loch Arbour, where write-in candidates appear to have ousted three candidates for the village commission that had run unopposed. In Tuesday’s non-partisan municipal election, Mayor David McLaughlin and his two running mates lost by a greater than 2-1 margin against challengers Frieda Adjmi, Theresa Manziano-Santoro, and Joseph R. Dweck. Turnout was at 60.5% … In 1996, Alex Adjmi, the husband of Frieda Adjmi, was convicted of money laundering after being caught in a government sting operation … He served 44 months in federal prison. Adjmi was pardoned by President Donald Trump at the request of leaders of the Syrian Jewish community in New York. Adjmi contributed $100,000 to a Trump-related PAC, Make America Great Again. Manziano-Santoro’s husband, Robert Santoro, identified by federal prosecutors as an associate of the Genovese crime family, was convicted of laundering over $7 million through his Jersey City-based check cashing business where a developer and some union leaders allegedly skimmed money from a Metropolitan Transportation Authority project.” MAPLE SHADY — “In the spotlight, N.J. towns drop perks for part-time officials,” by NJ Advance Medai’s Riley Yates and Steve Strunsky: “The Maple Shade deputy mayor said he wanted to set the record straight once and for all … ‘Neither I nor any other council members are receiving so-called illegal medical benefits,’ Wiest read from his seat in council chambers. ‘No one on council is receiving medical benefits from the township.’ By using the present tense, what Wiest said was technically true: On Jan. 1, nearly three months before he spoke, Maple Shade canceled the state health insurance coverage that Wiest received last year at a cost to local taxpayers of more than $28,000. In so doing, Maple Shade became the latest local government in New Jersey to reexamine the perks it offers its governing board, amid controversy over a 2010 law that mandated that newly elected officials work full time to be eligible for coverage under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). In recent months, Elizabeth, Roxbury Township and Long Beach Township have also quietly ended benefits for elected officials who fell under those full-time requirements, according to documents obtained through public records requests. That comes as some communities — including Maple Shade — said they concluded the coverage was not permitted while chiding the state for confusion over its rules when they enrolled. Still, the benefits drew ire from critics, who charged they were reconsidered only because of the spotlight the issue has recently garnered.” —“Lucy the Elephant voted top roadside attraction in United States in USA TODAY poll” —“Edison residents facing tax increase in 2024 proposed budget” —“Hoboken council OKs prelim $3.2M HBA budget after learning of ‘shakedown’ of ED” —“$14M settlement reached in lawsuit over contaminated water at Montvale facility”
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Maydeen turned a temporary job at one of Amazon’s Edison, New Jersey fulfillment centers into a full-time career because “Amazon provides so much training, mentoring and coaching support,” she said.
Discover more. | | | EVERYTHING ELSE —“Lapse in payments by CarePoint to state program puts funding for other Hudson hospitals in jeopardy” — “COVID was final blow to some NJ suburban office parks. Here's what they're morphing into” —“Rutgers-Camden breaks ground on Cooper Street Gateway” CORRECTION — Yesterday I wrote that the Senate pulled a vote on a controversial bill on the definition of anti-Semitism because of security concerns. However, I got the date and type of action wrong. The bill was expected to get a Thursday committee hearing that had not been formally noticed, not a Senate vote on Monday. But similar security concerns existed, even though the committee hearing did not coincide with the OPRA vote Monday. | | | | 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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