| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Thursday morning! Former Sen. Bob Menendez, a figure who for decades commanded fear and respect from New Jersey’s political class, if not love — is trading gold bars for prison bars. Judge Sidney Stein on Wednesday sentenced the Democrat to 11 years in prison — well above the two years his lawyers had initially asked for. He’s to report to prison in June. (Co-defendants Fred Daibes and Wael Hana got 7 and 8 years, respectively). Menendez is not immediately headed to prison, and still has several potential outs: His promised appeal, and the specter of clemency from President Trump. It appeared Menendez was going for that clemency during his remarks outside the courthouse. “President Trump is right. This process is political and it’s corrupted to the core,” said the officially corrupt former senator, who went on to tweet a statement and tag Trump. I’ve written writing it here for nearly a year: The prospect of Trump clemency for Menendez does not seem far-fetched. And indeed, Bloomberg reports Menendez plans to ask for a pardon. Given how narrowly the Supreme Court decisions have construed corruption since at least the Bob McDonnell case, I think there are big stakes attached to Menendez’s fate. The corruption he was convicted of is funny and sad: Pressuring prosecutors to go easy on his friends, helping out foreign governments in exchange for bribes, wads of cash stuffed into his pockets, and literally accepting gold bars as bribes. And all this corruption started shortly after Menendez beat a different corruption trial thanks to a hung jury. I was in the courtroom for that entire trial, and while I thought the feds had a weak case, I would never confuse the senator’s behavior that led to the charges with ethical public service. At the sentencing itself, Menendez pronounced himself a “chastened man” and said “I believe in my half century of public service I have done more good than bad.”’ That was right before he went outside and declared prosecutors corrupt. Less than an hour after Menendez made his thinly veiled appeal to Trump, The New York Times reported that federal prosecutors are discussing dropping corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. If Menendez ultimately walks away from such blatant corruption and Adams never faces trial, I fear it could usher in a golden age of corruption and smother the rule of law. Read all about it from Ry Rivard. WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Herb Conaway. Missed yesterday: George LeBlanc QUOTE OF THE DAY: “At a time when our expectations continue to get lower and lower for people in public life, the thing Bob Menendez is going to be remembered for is lowering those standards even further … “That’s a hell of an epitaph” — Chris Christie JOKE OF THE DAY: “Bob Menendez’s lawyer just asked the judge that if he is sentenced to prison, Menendez asks that he be allowed to serve his sentence of confinement at Fort Knox.” — @lawzag TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com
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IS HE STILL GONNA SUE THE EAGLES? — “‘Master tactician’ George Norcross promotes image as a civic leader as prosecutors call him a crime boss,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Andrew Seidman: “George E. Norcross III sat quietly, a spectator to his own courtroom drama, as a New Jersey prosecutor last week described him as an organized crime boss who allegedly used his control of Camden government to “strong-arm private citizens” into surrendering their property rights so he and his friends could profit. Less than a week later, the Cooper University Health Care chairman and Democratic power broker was back in command, appearing alongside Gov. Phil Murphy and four former New Jersey governors Tuesday to celebrate the hospital network’s groundbreaking on a $3 billion expansion project. … Beyond debating the facts and the law — the nuts and bolts of any criminal case — a fight is emerging between the government and defense over which version of Norcross seems more authentic: the ruthless operator who crushes his enemies for private gain, or the tireless advocate for a city and a region long neglected until he and his allies used their clout in Trenton and elsewhere to demand more resources. Engaging the news media and shaping public opinion are time-honored traditions for prosecutors and defendants alike. But perhaps more so than most criminal defendants, the media savvy Norcross — a former co-owner of The Inquirer who’s been running and strategizing political campaigns for decades — knows how to play the game. For years, he’s been keenly aware of his public perception — and worked to shape it — including with respect to his investments on the Camden waterfront, now the focal point of prosecutors’ case against him.” JEALOUS OF ALL THE ATTENTION LUIGI HAS BEEN GETTING — "Ex-Englewood Cliffs mayor will run for governor," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac is expected to enter the race for the Republican nomination for governor within the next few days, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. A former two-term mayor of Englewood Cliffs and a close friend of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Kranjac became the first Republican mayor of tiny Englewood Cliffs (pop. 5,342) in 40 years after the retirement of Joseph Parisi, Jr. in 2015. Parisi had become mayor a decade earlier after the death of his father, who had held the post for 39 years. He was re-elected to a second term by a ten-point margin in 2019, but did not seek re-election in 2023. Kranjac will have the backing of Mike Crispi, the chairman of America First Republicans of New Jersey." COUGHLIN UP A LUNG — “No action in a full year on proposed Atlantic City casino smoking ban,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “It's been a full year since the New Jersey Legislature has done anything with a bill that would ban smoking in Atlantic City's casinos. Wednesday marked the anniversary of a vote in the state Senate to move forward with a bill that would end smoking in the nine casinos. But since then, it has gone nowhere, and casino workers decried the inaction. ‘It’s been a year since the Senate health committee voted to protect us from secondhand smoke, and yet we’re still waiting for action from Senate leadership,’ said Pete Naccarelli, a table games dealer at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and a co-founder of the anti-smoking group CEASE.” ‘
| | | | Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today. | | | | | THE TRUTH IS PLANE TO SEE — “Trump explanation for N.J. drones raises new questions. ‘I’m not buying it,’ lawmaker says,” by NJ Advance Media’s AJ McDougall: “The explanation was met with skepticism by state and local lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in New Jersey, including many who are asking for clarification about the drones’ origins and greater transparency. ‘This is friggin’ bonkers, man. Really,’ state Assemblyman Brian Bergen, R-Morris, said Wednesday. ‘And the people who are just accepting it — it’s not me. I’m not OK with it. It’s like bizarro world.’ Bergen said it didn’t make sense that the FAA would have imposed temporary drone flight restrictions over regions of New Jersey and New York after the sightings if the agency was responsible for the drones all along. He also said the White House’s explanation for the drone sightings is at odds with the federal government’s decision to send specialized drone detection equipment to New Jersey late last month. ‘Nobody thought to say something that whole time?’ Bergen asked. ‘Come on. I’m not buying it.’” TALKING ALL NIGHT ABOUT DEEP STUFF — “Hemp companies in talks with N.J. to resolve lawsuit over new hemp law,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “Hemp companies suing New Jersey over a law that bans intoxicating hemp product sales are in ‘ongoing discussions’ that could resolve the dispute, according to a recent court filing. Several hemp companies appealed after a federal judge upheld most of the hemp law that went into effect in October, although the state’s cannabis regulatory agency said it couldn’t enforce some of the regulations due to the decision. Now, the parties will file status reports every 60 days to the judge overseeing the case about any ‘potential developments’ in their attempts to end the legal challenge, an attorney for the state told the judge earlier this month.” —“Baraka’s new chief strategist is the guy who helped AOC and Fetterman win" —Gottheimer, Sherrill weigh in on ‘sanctuary’ policies as Dems talk immigration in gov primary —“Lumberton carjacking prompts South Jersey assemblyman to call for ICE involvement”
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CLEANUP ON AISLE 47 — Trump went for shock and awe. Now he’s mopping up, by POLTICO’s Lisa Kashinsky and Liz Crampton: It didn’t take long for Donald Trump’s second White House to end up in clean-up mode. Trump’s budget office has rescinded his proposed freeze on large swathes of federal aid, capping off a whirlwind 48 hours in which the president’s push to reign in spending sowed chaos across levels of government that administration officials were left scrambling to contain. White House officials had already issued a flurry of statements and memos on Tuesday attempting to clarify which assistance programs would be affected amid outcry over potential disruptions to public health care benefits and other services for the elderly and low-income people. Concern was coming from all corners even before the White House walked its plans back.
TRUMP FREED KRILL TO FEED THE WHALES HE SAVED FROM WIND TURBINES — “Trump’s J6 pardons freed N.J. man despite longer prison term for ammo possession,” by Kevin Shea for NJ.com: “A Gloucester County man freed from prison in the wave of President Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons last week was serving a separate, longer term for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, records show. Peter Krill, 56, of Sewell in Mantua Township, was sentenced in February 2024 to nine months in prison for pushing through police lines at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. … However, in the summer of 2024, Krill pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition by a convicted felon in federal court in New Jersey, stemming from the eight firearms the FBI seized when they arrested him at his home in 2022 for Jan. 6 crimes. In that case, a judge sentenced Krill in November 2024 to 46 months in prison, just shy of four years, and said the term would run concurrent to the Washington case. It’s unclear how federal authorities were able to release Krill after his Jan. 6 case was pardoned if he had at least two or more years to serve in the ammunition case. Krill was serving his time at the federal prison at Fort Dix.” —Opinion: “Trump aims to weaken N.J.’s gun violence research. Murphy can prevent it" —"Solomon scorches Menendez for ‘his pathetic groveling to Trump’ after sentencing" —“Menendez’s ex-colleagues aren’t dancing on his grave” —“'What now?' NJ organization that aids refugees struggles for solution to Trump's dictates” —“Here’s why Kim, Booker flipped against Trump’s Transportation nominee”
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KIND OF BLUE — “Why does Bergen County cling to blue laws? Is the practice, established in 1704, outdated?” by The Record’s David M. Zimmer: “Decades after the rest of New Jersey ended the practice, Bergen County continues to enforce blue laws that ban most retail activity on Sundays. While critics call blue laws antiquated and inconvenient, local politicians and voters have repeatedly resisted attempts to repeal them. During the last countywide referendum, in November 1993, voters rejected lifting the Sunday retail ban by a ratio of 2-to-1. Officials in Paramus recently said they are considering legal action against American Dream, accusing the Meadowlands megamall of violating the county’s blue laws by allowing retail stores to operate on Sundays. … The laws were popular in 17th-century Puritan communities in New England that enforced strict Sabbath observance and may have been called ‘blue’ for their puritanical ties or their connection to acts that could be considered indecent, according to various theories. An 1880 article in The Monmouth Inquirer described their return to prominence in New Jersey in the late 19th century as ‘New England remnants of blue law and restricted freedom, which fluttered over into Jersey recently.’’
PLEADINGS FROM ASBURY PARK — “Asbury Park school boss sues school board members, says they falsely accused him of crimes,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Charles Daye: “The acting schools superintendent filed a lawsuit against three members of the Board of Education, claiming a political flyer used during their campaign maliciously accused him of crimes. Current board members Stephanie Ackerman, Dominic Latorraca and Jessie Ricks ran successfully under the Improve Learning Now! ticket in the election last November. During their campaign they printed and distributed flyers that, according to the sample included in the lawsuit, read, ‘Explosive scandal in Asbury Park: Acting Superintendent Mark Gerbino under investigation for fraud and grade manipulation.’ These were ‘malicious and knowingly false’ accusations that ‘caused great harm to the reputation and being of Gerbino’ according to the lawsuit filed on Nov. 21.”
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Find out more. | | | THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO ‘HMMM…’ — “Lakewood extends deadline for school board appointee candidates without reason,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “The Board of Education has extended the deadline to apply for an open board seat that became vacant when the candidate who won the seat in November declined to take it. District officials did not explain the reason for the extension to Feb. 13, which occurred after three applicants had applied for the seat, but two withdrew. The remaining applicant, Eli Eisenbach, had run in the November election, receiving the most votes, 9,668, among those who did not win a seat. He said he is still interested in serving and wondered why they did not choose him. … The board chose last week to extend the deadline to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, but offered no reason for the move.” TILTING AT WINDMILLS —“Atlantic City to hold special meeting, consider ending offshore wind ordinance,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “City Council will hold a special meeting next Wednesday, Feb. 5, to consider rescinding an ordinance that gave Atlantic Shores permanent easements to move electricity across the city from its offshore wind farm. Council attorney Robert Tarver announced the special meeting near the start of Wednesday's council meeting, after City Clerk Paula Geletei said a petition to force the ordinance's retraction through a public question had been certified as having sufficient valid signatures. President Donald J. Trump last week signed an executive order halting the offshore wind industry for at least six months while all federal leases are re-evaluated, giving offshore wind opponents a win.” —“[Lakewood] school district says it’s broke, can’t pay teachers without emergency loan” — “[Dumont] proposal would ban gay pride flags from government property” —“Retaliation worsened after I sued [Palisades Park] for $600K, cop says in suit” —“Palisades Park settles suits filed by two police officers. What about other lawsuits?” —“Colleagues taunted me with racial slurs, Black [Mercer County] sheriff’s officer says in lawsuit,” —“Weed or no weed? [South River] to decide fate of future dispensaries” —“Mendham borough voters approve $20M school referendum. What's it mean for local tax bills?” —“Scotch Plains, Fanwood voters approve $44.8 million school referendum” —“[Ocean Township] high school basketball coach charged with sexually assaulting teen” —“Op-Ed: Jersey City must stand firm against ICE enforcement, mayoral hopeful says” —“[South Orange-Maplewood] student who accused principal of assaulting her in hallway files lawsuit” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
SO FUNKED UP — “Here's how P-Funk legend George Clinton might make history at the Grammy Awards,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Chris Jordan: “Grammy history just might be made Sunday, Feb. 2. Music legend George Clinton, who founded the Parliament Funkadelic universe in a Plainfield barbershop, is nominated for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording for his “…And Your (backside) Will Follow.” If he wins, it would be his first in an active category. Clinton and P-Funk did not win a Grammy in the 1970s and '80s when they helped shape modern music, but they did receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.”
—“NY Waterway to provide expanded ferry service during Hoboken PATH closure” —“Power outages, downed trees reported in North Jersey amid wind advisory” R.I.P. — “Janitor spent 35 years barely earning minimum wage. He died weeks after winning $150K settlement” CLARIFICATION: I wrote yesterday that the governor had called an “emergency” Cabinet meeting to talk about the Trump administration OMB memo. While that was the topic of the meeting, and it’s fair to consider it an emergency, a Cabinet meeting had already been planned.
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