| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! To those who were digging Bob Menendez’s political grave so they could jump into his seat: Congratulations. Unless you were cut off from the world for the past 18 hours, you’ve heard that New Jersey’s senior senator and his two co-defendants were convicted of every corruption count against them. The 70-year-old is facing the possibility of a long prison term if his promised appeals don’t work out, and if a potential future President Donald Trump doesn’t give him clemency. We can all now drop the word “allegedly” when referring to the crimes. A jury determined the senator took gold bars, cash and other bribes in exchange for favors, including helping the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Menendez’s wife, co-defendant, and scapegoat Nadine’s trial has been delayed indefinitely. Through all Menendez’s scandals over the last 20 years, he’s had a remarkable streak of luck. Despite federal subpoenas during his first Senate election in 2006, he caught a Democratic wave. New Jerseyans weren’t fond of Menendez in 2018 and Democrats showed it with the primary protest vote for Lisa McCormick. But ultimately New Jersey voters felt it was more important to have a Democratic Senate as a check to Donald Trump. Now, the question is what happens for the rest of Menendez’s term, which expires in January. Gov. Phil Murphy and many of Menendez’s Senate colleagues have told him to resign or face expulsion, though Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hasn’t publicly endorsed expulsion. Murphy pledged to appoint a “temporary” replacement, but didn’t make clear whether that means he’d appoint a caretaker or, say, Democratic Senate nominee Andy Kim. Murphy and Kim aren’t close following the brief but brutal Senate primary between Kim and first lady Tammy Murphy. But Murphy could cite some real potential pitfalls to naming Kim. Democrats, already down one House seat in New Jersey, would briefly be without another in the 3rd District. And he’d open himself up to charges of using his office to help his party by giving Kim an incumbency advantage. But Kim is favored to win anyway, and appointing him to the Senate early would give him seniority over the rest of the next class of freshman senators. That’s a potential benefit for the state’s clout in a legislative body in which seniority goes a long way towards determining committee assignments and with it, the ability to bring home the goods. Much more on this below. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at Mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Chris Durkin, Lloyd Naideck, Scott Devlin, Kaleem Shabazz. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m getting his parking space.” — Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman on Menendez WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Atlantic City at 10:15 a.m. for the N.J. Building and Construction Trades Council's convention. | | | | The CNN-POLITICO Grill has quickly become a key gathering place for policymakers and thought-leaders attending the RNC in Milwaukee.
On Tuesday, POLITICO and Bayer convened two conversations: a discussion with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and an executive conversation with Bayer’s Jessica Christiansen, senior vice president and head of crop science and sustainability communications.
The conversations focused on the news of the day in Milwaukee, including deeper discussion centered on the critical challenges faced by the agriculture sector.
CATCH UP HERE | | | | | |  | MENENDEZ CORRUPTION TRIAL | | LEGENEDEZ OF THE FALL — Inside Bob Menendez’s downfall: ‘The arrogance went to his head’, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Over the years, Bob Menendez gained a reputation as New Jersey’s ultimate political survivor. On Tuesday, his endurance ran out. The conviction of the Democratic senator on 16 counts in a sweeping bribery case comes nearly seven years after he beat prior corruption charges thanks to a hung jury — and 18 years after another federal investigation ended without charges. … Now Menendez, who has virtually no chance of winning reelection as an independent in the deep-blue state, is staring at the ruins of a 50-year political career and the prospect of decades in prison. SENATORIAL COURTESY — Torrent of senators call for Menendez to resign — and one floats expulsion, by POLITICO’s Ursula Perano and Anthony Adragna: Bob Menendez is officially a convicted felon — and a U.S. senator — at the same time. If his colleagues have anything to say about it, that won’t last long. … Shortly after a jury read off the verdict that he was guilty on all counts, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ended months of resistance and called on Menendez to resign, joining more than half of Senate Democrats who have already done so. And at least one of Democratic senator is openly considering expulsion. KIMCUMBENCY — NJ Dems say Andy Kim should be named to Senate after Menendez conviction, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman and Daniel Han: Prominent New Jersey Democrats see Rep. Andy Kim as the obvious choice to replace Sen. Bob Menendez following his guilty verdicts Tuesday. But Gov. Phil Murphy would not say whether he would name Kim if — or when — the Senate seat opens up. Murphy said Tuesday he’ll choose a “temporary” replacement for Menendez if he resigns or is expelled from the Senate following his conviction on all 16 counts in his corruption trial. One person close to the Murphy administration granted anonymity to speak about internal deliberations said that while it’s not impossible that Kim could be appointed, “unlikely is probably fair.” And Murphy could be sensitive to accusations of helping his own party in an election by giving Kim the advantage of incumbency. — "Booker to Menendez: Resign" — Menendez guilty verdicts give New York prosecutors a win after high-profile setbacks — Menendez has spent $6M on lawyers as campaign fund dwindles — "From gold bars to a pricey car: All the bribes Sen. Bob Menendez has been accused of accepting over the years"
| | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | GOTTHUDSON — “Major Hudson Democrats will back Gottheimer for governor,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “In a move that will set off a political tsunami in Hudson County and across the state, a group of hugely influential Democratic officials, including County Executive Craig Guy and Union City Mayor/State Sen. Brian P. Stack, said today that they are prepared to support Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) for governor next year against the county’s favorite son, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop. Guy and Stack, along with Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, West New York Mayor Albio Sires, and Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, said Gottheimer is their first choice for governor and urged him to run. The decision of Guy to back Gottheimer leaves Fulop without the support of his home county chairman and gives Gottheimer a major foothold into Hudson, along with his own political base in Bergen.”
| | | BIDEN TIME | | | THE STORY ALL OF NEW JERSEY WAS WATCHING TUESDAY — LaMonica McIver wins special primary for late NJ Rep. Donald Payne Jr. seat, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver is all but certain to succeed the late Donald Payne Jr. in New Jersey’s 10th congressional district following her special primary win Tuesday night. The 38-year-old Newark native prevailed over 10 other candidates. CONVENTIONAL WISDOM — “Seven Democrats file to run at convention for Payne’s seat,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “Seven Democrats have successfully filed to run in Thursday’s special convention to fill the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-Newark)’s spot on the November ballot: Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver, Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-Jersey City), former Payne staffer Shana Melius, community college professor Sheila Montague, teacher John Flora, and former Assemblyman Craig Stanley (D-West Orange). That means that five candidates who will appear on voters’ ballots in today’s special Democratic primary for the same seat – former East Orange Councilwoman Brittany Claybrooks, economic development official Darryl Godfrey, Democratic district leader Alberta Gordon, activist Debra Salters, and law professor Eugene Mazo – will not have the ability to compete for the chance to serve a full term in Congress.” — “Chris Christie: Will Trump meet the moment?” — “New Jersey GOP fails to get waiver, lost 40 delegates after missing deadline”
| | LOCAL | | RICHARD BERDNIK — “Passaic County Prosecutor's Office releases Sheriff Richard Berdnik investigation results,” by The Record’s Matt Fagan: “Nearly six months after the death of Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik, the Passaic County Prosecutors Office said the investigation is complete and the cause of death was suicide by gun. The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office determined the popular sheriff died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in January, reads an email from First Assistant Prosecutor Jason Statuto.” LAYOFFS — “Passaic County Sheriff's officers laid off. Here's how many and why,” by The Record’s Matt Fagan: “Seven Passaic County Sheriff's officers were laid off this month, fewer than the 29 that were originally expected to lose their jobs. The officers' union, PBA Local 197, with the help of county officials, was able to cut down the number of layoffs first to a dozen and eventually to seven in the last few months. The layoffs were effective July 1, said Passaic County Sheriff's Officer spokesman Bill Maer, who added that one of the seven laid-off officers is in the process of transferring to another department.” — “Ex-school board member was ousted over criticism of city’s mayor, superintendent, lawsuit claims" — “Criticism of Atlantic City schools superintendent sidelines CRDA planner” — “Kushner housing development in Perth Amboy on hold over labor concerns, proposed tax break” — “NJ will pay $153 million to demolish elementary school, replace a high school in Newark” — “NJ weather: The heat wave is making these Jersey Shore business owners miserable” — “Wall teacher Julie Rizzitello accused of having sex with student faces more charges” — “[Newark] school spokesman will earn as much as many superintendents: $180K” — “The Goldman House, a piece of utopian history in Piscataway, is in danger of demolition” — “CRDA says yes to 2 more Atlantic City cannabis spots” | | | | In Milwaukee for the RNC? Join POLITICO at the CNN-POLITICO Grill for in-depth interviews with the most prominent leaders of the Republican Party as we discuss policy, politics and news of the week. RSVP HERE.
Or, follow along with every update from the Republican National Convention with POLITICO’s live blog | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | | TRIVIAL PROBLEMS IN FORT LEE — “'Jeopardy!' contestants stumped by clue about Bergen County borough,” by New Jersey Herald’s Kyle Morel: “North Jersey residents can proudly say they were smarter than three "Jeopardy!" contestants for at least one clue this week — that is, as long as they know where Fort Lee is located. The Bergen County borough was the main hint in the question — technically, the answer — asked in the Double Jeopardy round of Monday's show. The full clue, worth $800 in the the category ‘The World in 1776,’ read: ‘The Revolution was struggling when the Brits took Fort Lee in this state, future home of Dr. Joyce Brothers & Mr. Richard Feder.’ On paper, the clue was the second-easiest among the five in the category. But it turned out to be a triple stumper, with none of the three players — two California natives and another from Rochester, New York — ringing in correctly.” “NASA says bright meteor may have zipped over NJ and NYC when loud booms were heard,” by NJ Advance Media’s Len Melisurgo: “Astronomy experts from NASA say a bright meteor apparently zipped across the sky over parts of several eastern states on Tuesday, including New Jersey and New York, before the meteor disintegrated about 29 miles above the Statue of Liberty. However, the space agency said there’s no evidence the meteor is what caused a series of loud booms and house shaking that had been reported by people in many areas of New Jersey and Staten Island at about 11:20 or 11:30 a.m. NASA said the booms and shaking may have been linked to military testing that was reported in the Ocean County area of New Jersey, but it isn’t certain.” — “For recent NJ college grads, the job search has been rough as firms eye inflation” — “Bergen County Little Leaguer born with one hand follows in the footsteps of Jim Abbott” — “Former N.J. Playboy Club slated to become new resort, concert venue” — “NJCU process of meeting state deadlines is ‘underway’; tuition hike offset by free textbooks”
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