New Jersey’s top Democrats have called for Sen. Bob Menendez’s resignation after federal corruption accusations against him were made public on Friday.
However, Menendez’s old power base in Hudson County Democratic Organisation wants to remain on the sidelines for the time being.
“Remember, people don’t realise that Senator Menendez is like a rock star in Hudson County,” county Democratic chair Anthony P. Vainieri Jr. said in an interview on Saturday. Many of us look up to him and consider him a role model. No one from his district has called me to demand that he quit. Hispanics make up a sizable portion of the population here in [the] county, and they adore him.
Three persons acquainted with Vainieri’s comments confirmed that he made this assertion early Saturday morning at a virtual meeting with other Democratic county chairman in New Jersey.
Vainieri’s statements to AWN followed calls for Menendez’s resignation from prominent New Jersey Democrats such as Governor Phil Murphy, state Democratic Party Chair LeRoy Jones, and key Democratic Chairs in Middlesex, Bergen, and Passaic counties. Prosecutors in the federal government claim that Menendez and his wife committed corrupt activities in exchange for money, gold bars, and an expensive car.
Although Menendez now resides in neighbouring Bergen County, his political career began across the Hudson River in Hudson County, a Democratic bastion infamous for political fiefdoms and bossism. Menendez began his political career in the 1970s as a member of the Union City school board in Hudson County. At one point, he testified in a corruption trial against his former political mentor, the mayor of Union City, while wearing a bulletproof vest.
Menendez’s only supporters are himself and his son, New Jersey Democrat Rob Menendez, who helped his father get elected to Congress and now represents most of Hudson County.
Vainieri added that he has not received any indication that local leaders will issue a statement in support of the senator and that he is still in communication with them to discuss the matter.
It’s not the time to take a stand,” Vainieri added. I haven’t finished spoken to all the city managers and mayors yet…. We’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing until the kinks are worked out.
Menendez has stated that he has no intention of resigning, despite calls for his resignation from several of his Washington colleagues.
Democratic New Jersey Representatives Bill Pascrell, who represents a portion of Hudson County, Andy Kim, Mikie Sherrill, Frank Pallone, Donald Norcross, and Josh Gottheimer have all called for Menendez’s resignation.
Former Menendez defender and current New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has said nothing since Friday about the accusation against Menendez. The Republican Party in New Jersey has also demanded Menendez’s departure.
