| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Friday morning! Former Warren County Prosecutor James Pfeiffer (or IS he former?) will not go quietly. Two weeks ago, the Attorney General’s Office announced that Pfeiffer resigned “effective immediately” and that Office of Public Integrity and Accountability Director Anthony Picione would take over as acting prosecutor. The following Monday the Attorney General issued a lengthy report on the alleged misuse of county money meant to fund insurance fraud investigations. On Wednesday, Pfeiffer's attorney Arthur Russo claimed that despite his client’s “coerced informal resignation,” the Attorney General’s Office had no authority to either demand or accept it. That authority, he said, belongs to the governor. "The Director of OPIA Thomas Eicher and the Attorney General’s allegations that Prosecutor Pfeiffer interfered with this investigation are devoid of evidence and lack credibility,” Russo wrote in a letter to First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay Ruotolo. “Clearly, Mr. Eicher was enraged by Prosecutor Pfeiffer’s refusal to not just rubber stamp his highly improper and unprofessional demands,” Russo wrote, saying the removal of Pfeiffer was “meant to punish him.” and that the actions violated Pfeiffer’s “Constitutional and administrative rights.” “Kindly be advised that in the event you fail to recognize Prosecutor Pfeiffer’s coerced informal resignation as invalid and further fail to recognize Prosecutor Pfeiffer as a duly appointed and confirmed Prosecutor for the County of Warren, my office has been authorized to institute litigation in this matter for remedies involving constitutional, statutory and ethical violations which you and the Attorney General Office have perpetuated in this matter,” Russo wrote. I don’t think he really meant that kindly. There’s a lot more in the letter, which you can read here. The Attorney General’s Office declined to comment. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at MFriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “People don’t really want a casino in their neighborhood.” — Meadowlands Racetrack owner Jeff Gural, who’s once again floating a North Jersey casino. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Phil Alongi, Michelle Gentek-Mayer, Kate Triggiano. Saturday for Colin Bell, Chris Donnelly, Bethanne McCarthy Patrick. Sunday for Tom Kean Sr., Hetty Rosenstein, David Rousseau, Tony Teixeira, Rich DeRose, Matthew Anderson, Marty Steinberg WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule.
|  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | PAYING FAMILY LEAVE — “Workers will soon pay more for temporary disability, family leave benefits,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “New Jersey workers can expect to pay more in family leave and temporary disability taxes in 2025 as the state fund that finances those benefits recovers from a major revenue loss. Department of Labor officials told the Senate Budget Committee Thursday they expect the state’s disability benefits fund, which pays out temporary disability and family leave insurance benefits, will face a $442 million shortfall at the end of the fiscal year that begins July 1. Though the state has proposed an interagency loan to fill the gap, workers are expected to pay hundreds of dollars more on average to fund those benefits as the state works past trends that saw those tax rates fall to zero or near zero in 2023 and 2024. ‘All this is set by statute. We don’t have flexibility in setting the rates. Whatever statute says we are going to do, we are going to do,’ Labor Commissioner Rob Asaro-Angelo told the committee.” —“Despite ballot design drama, no real increase in contested primaries this year” —“School boards, library groups take sides over 'Freedom to Read' bill”
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LUSTBERG, RIGHT AHEAD! — Federal prosecutors have reached a deal that seems likely to keep Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial on track to start in early May.
The deal would resolve a potential conflict for attorney Lawrence Lustberg, who represents Menendez co-defendant Wael Hana in the current case and Menendez co-defendant Fred Daibes in a separate fraud case that touches on this one. The conflict could be a problem, especially if Lustberg is called as a witness to a conversation between Daibes and Menendez that prosecutors said is critical to their case against Menendez. In place of that testimony, Lustberg has agreed to an anonymized stipulation that could be used during the trial. The stipulation is expected to say that Lustberg was on a January 2022 call with Daibes and Menendez where the senator criticized Lustberg’s legal work on that separate fraud case. Federal prosecutors have since alleged that Daibes bribed Menendez to help the fraud case go away. Daibes, Hana and Menendez have pleaded not guilty. Federal judge Sidney Stein still needs to agree to the deal, which he will hear about during a 10:30 a.m. meeting on Friday in Manhattan, though he already indicated he wants to keep the May 6 trial date set last fall. Menendez’s wife, who has also been charged, was recently granted a separate trial because of what her attorneys described as a serious medical condition. – Ry Rivard WHAT IS LOVE? BABY DON’T HURT ME. DON’T HURT ME. IN COURT — “So much for love. Menendez heaves Nadine overboard,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “With his trial set to begin next month, freshly revealed court documents confirm what legal observers predicted months ago when Menendez and his wife, Nadine, hired separate legal teams. He’s apparently going to blame his wife. And when her trial comes up in July, she may just blame him. Strap yourself in … According to the indictment, Menendez’s wife Nadine was usually the point person contacting the men who are accused of showering Menendez and her with bribes. That may give defense attorneys a chance to create doubt about Menendez’s knowledge of just what was going on. Hey, sometimes a new Mercedes appears in the garage. Why ask questions? And who among us hasn’t stuffed a few dozen gold bars in the closet once in a while, without knowing where they came from? … Still, as a legal matter, some lawyers say this move might be useful to Menendez. At his trial next month, he can try to blame her, and if she tries to object, he may be able to block her testimony by claiming spousal privilege. At Nadine’s trial in July, she could try the same stunt. With separate trials, each jury could wind up hearing only the version that helps the defendant before them.” TOTALLY RADICAL — “It's over. New Jersey's county line is gone for good. Will our politics change?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Throughout their desperate last attempt to save New Jersey’s wobbling, boss-driven county machinery, Democratic Party lawyers relied on scare tactics … [M]y favorite — discarding the old school ‘county line’ format that has protected the chosen candidates and punished outsiders, they argued, was tantamount to a ‘radical’ change … In one brief submitted by the Camden County Democratic Committee — the central office of power broker George Norcross’ political fief — ‘radical’ was cited as a warning five times … But the three judges presiding over the case in U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia didn’t scare easily. They dismissed the sky-is-falling talk of voter chaos as ‘speculation.’ And they scoffed at the suggestion that discarding the old ballot of bracketing county-blessed candidates in a column, or line, represented ‘radical change.’ … Political bosses and veterans have an uncanny way of adapting and circumventing other reforms … And the Legislature, which is packed with officials whose careers are indebted to the boss system, is planning to review changes in the system and ballot design … preferences are listed with a special marker — a star next to their name or a color designation — that will signal to voters that this is the candidate that has the certified seal of county-boss approval. But until then, there is another future on the horizon, one in which candidates for office don’t have to kiss the ring of county bosses … And in the context of New Jersey political history, that is indeed, ‘radical’ change.” GILMORE TO RNC: WAIT’LL WE GET OUR HAINES OFF YOU — “Haines won’t seek return to RNC post; Palatucci could face battle,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “After twenty years as the Republican National Committeewoman from New Jersey, Virginia Haines has decided not to seek re-election to a fifth term, the New Jersey Globe has learned. Bernards Township Committeewoman Janice Fields, the GOP state committeewoman from Somerset County, has been making calls seeking support to succeed Haines. But the big fight might be for the other seat, where Republican National Committeeman Bill Palatucci could face a challenge in his bid for re-election. Palatucci is a close ally of former Gov. Chris Christie, and his opposition to Donald Trump’s candidacy is creating some political problems among the 42 Republican State Committee members who elect New Jersey’s two national committee members ... He has no announced opponent, but Atlantic County GOP Chairman Donald Purdy is considered a possible opponent.” —Snowflack: “The last court ruling on the line” —“Trump rally will take place on the same beach where the Barefoot Country Music Festival is held” —“Menendez urges new HUD secretary to take over Atlantic City Housing Authority” | | LOCAL | | PASSAIC COUNTY — “Passaic County Jail guard admits role in beating of inmate over urine splash,” by The Record’s Kyle Morel: “One of three Passaic County correctional officers pleaded guilty Thursday in the 2021 assault of a pretrial detainee, U.S Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Lorenzo Bowden, 39, was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice in Newark federal court. He admitted that he helped take the prisoner to an area of the Passaic County Jail with no video cameras and ‘stood by while other officers repeatedly hit and assaulted the handcuffed detainee who posed no threat,’ Sellinger said … The assault came a day after the inmate squirted a mixture containing urine onto a correctional officer. In April 2022, the three defendants, after receiving federal grand jury subpoenas, held a meeting and agreed not to cooperate with the investigation” FOR NJ POLITICAL BOSSES, A RANKLED CHOICE — “Ranked-choice voting could get first test in NJ,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Ted Goldberg: “If approved by state lawmakers, Jersey City and Hoboken could begin the process to use ranked-choice voting as soon as next year. Jersey City and Hoboken have both approved ordinances that would allow voters to decide by referendum on introducing the ranked-choice voting, where voters rank their preferences for office until one nominee wins a majority. Jersey City Councilman James Solomon said his city is ready once the state lawmakers pass a bill allowing municipalities the option of the voting system.” — “Support grows for ranked-choice voting in municipal, school board elections” THERE’S ONLY ROOM FOR ONE KIND OF HABIT — “Atlantic City Council votes to pull lots near church, nuns from cannabis zone,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “City Council Wednesday night introduced an ordinance to establish buffer zones around schools and religious buildings where cannabis businesses will not be allowed even if within the city's "green zone." Sixth Ward Councilman Jesse Kurtz suggested an amendment, which passed, that also bans cannabis businesses from Atlantic Avenue lots between Georgia and Mississippi avenues around St. Michael's Church. ‘They are closest to (the church) and the Sisters of Renewal,’ Kurtz said. "The sisters objected. They were not engaged in the initial conversation. They were horrified (cannabis would be nearby) where they do rehab classes." The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal Convent is on Mississippi Avenue, near proposed cannabis sites.” MARLBORO — “‘She molested my daughter!’ Mom accuses teacher of assault at N.J. school board meeting,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “A Marlboro middle school teacher is no longer in her job after being accused of inappropriate physical contact with a 13-year-old student in a hallway last month, according to a letter sent to students’ families Wednesday. The letter from the school district’s superintendent followed a dramatic statement at Tuesday’s school board meeting by the mother of a 13-year-old girl attending Marlboro Memorial Middle School. ‘My daughter was sexually abused in this school,’ the mother told the school board. Standing with her husband, the woman alleged school officials failed to protect her daughter from the teacher and mishandled the incident. ‘She molested my daughter,’ the mother said of the teacher.” —“Atlantic City mayor: I’m committed to my family and city while dealing with daughter abuse charges” —“Hoboken council rejects measure denouncing alleged rent control referendum tactics” —“What Newark school board candidates say after mayor-backed slate wins with low turnout” —“What's next for Byram schools after voters defeat tax hike? Staff, program cuts likely” —“Cops will take over [Trenton] animal shelter in shakeup” —“[Sayreville] father dies weeks after allegedly killing his 9-year-old son in burning car” —“Toms River downtown plan has 64 apartments, stores; will mayor fight it at next hearing?”
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HEALTH — “NJ’s top-notch health care persistently underperforms for certain residents,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Lilo H. Stainton: “New Jersey’s health care system works well, better than those in all but four other states and the District of Columbia, according to a well-respected new report. But New Jersey doesn’t do as well when it comes to Black and Hispanic residents, who are still less likely to access quality care and stay healthy. The Commonwealth Fund, a century-old foundation dedicated to advancing health equity, released its annual report on state-level health disparities early Thursday … For instance in New Jersey, while health insurance availability has expanded, nearly one in four Hispanic residents lack coverage. And Black and Hispanic residents die from preventable causes at rates that are significantly higher than white and Asian people, according to the report.”
BIG GOOSE — “Wawa, QuickChek or 7-11? New poll shows which store rules in N.J.,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jelani Gibson: “Wawa reigns as the state’s top convenience store, but 7-Eleven has more fans inside cities, according to a new Monmouth University poll. Half of New Jersey chose Wawa as its favorite convenience store chain. 7-Eleven came in at 15%, QuickChek was at 14% and other stores were at 10%. The store, which is named after a town named after a goose, has taken New Jersey by cultural storm. Some New Jerseyans have gone as far as getting tattoos of the brand. Others have met their spouses and celebrated weddings at Wawa.” — “Casinos at Hudson Yards, Citi Field? Atlantic City casinos see a major threat” —“NJ casinos lose ground on revenue front as competitive threats loom all around” —“School bus destroyed in fire at the Jersey shore: officials” —“The vandalization of Rutgers’ Islamic Center reminds us that we need to combat Islamophobia | Opinion” —“NJ Supreme Court tosses $24M award to 'disloyal' surgeons against Valley Hospital”
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