Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial will go forward after a federal judge on Monday refused to toss out any charges against the New Jersey Democrat and his top donor, SALOMON MELGEN.
U.S. District Judge William H. Walls said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision did not invalidate the “stream of benefits” theory at the center of the Justice Department’s case against Menendez. After failing to get the case dismissed, defense attorneys for Menendez and Melgen began their case by putting relatives on the witness stand.
The major-party candidates for lieutenant governor — Republican Carlos Rendo and Democrat Shiela Oliver — sparred on immigration, marijuana and taxes during their only televised debate. The two candidates at the top of the ticket, Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Kim Guadagno, will face off for their second debate on Wednesday. Former President Barack Obama is coming to New Jersey on Thursday to campaign with Murphy.
Quote of the Day: “I see nothing in McDonnell that attacks the stream of benefits theory.” — Judge William H. Walls rejecting Sen. Bob Menendez’s attempt to get his case dismissed.
Judge Declines to Dismiss Menendez Charges
The federal judge overseeing Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial declined on Monday to dismiss any charges, finding that the entire case against the senator could proceed to a jury even after the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the scope of bribery crimes in the 2016 case McDonnell v. United States.
Christian Hetrick, Observer Read more
Menendez Defense Puts Relatives on the Witness Stand
Defense attorneys for Sen. Bob Menendez and his top donor, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, began to present their case Monday by putting the senator’s son and Melgen’s wife on the stand.
Christian Hetrick, Observer Read more
Obama to Campaign With Murphy on Thursday
President Barack Obama will make a campaign stop in Newark on Thursday to rally supporters behind Phil Murphy, the Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor.
Alyana Alfaro, Observer Read more
Oliver, Rendo Clash at NJ Lieutenant Governor Debate
The lieutenant governor candidate debate between Sheila Oliver and Carlos Rendo primarily featured the running-mates fiercely defending the two candidates at the top of the ticket, Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Kim Guadagno.
Alyana Alfaro, Observer Read more
In race to replace Christie, GOP nominee Guadagno takes hard right turn
The sleepy race to replace New Jersey Gov. Christie Christie, steeped until now in talk of property taxes and job creation, is taking a sudden, hard right turn as the GOP nominee borrows a page from President Donald Trump’s playbook.
Politico Read more
In latest diss, Guadagno claims Murphy’s actually running for president
Trailing her rival by 18 points, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno accused Democratic nominee Phil Murphy of secretly preparing a run for the White House, called for re-establishing the death penalty for perpetrators of mass shootings and repeated false claims that Murphy had called for an increase in the sales tax and the privatization of the Turnpike.
NJ.com Read more
Gov. Chris Christie endorses Newark bid to win new Amazon headquarters
Republican Gov. Chris Christie on Monday endorsed the bid of the state’s biggest city to win Amazon’s competition for a second headquarters.
The Record Read more
There is one problem with legalizing marijuana in New Jersey, and it’s massive
In August, a New Jersey grandmother was charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of her grandkids, ages 5 and 2. Police determined she was high on marijuana when she crashed her car with the children aboard.
Asbury Park Press Read more
Atlantic County’s ‘mac n cheese’ pol ridiculed on national podcast
The Trump era has been an interesting one for Atlantic County Republican Freeholder John Carman, who mostly represents Egg Harbor Township from the obscure county legislative body’s third district.
Inquirer Read more
What’s that new language on N.J. elections site? Gujarati, and those who speak it find that special
This year, the state’s Division of Elections began publishing candidate statements and public questions on its website in Gujarati and Korean, in addition to Spanish and English. Gujarati speakers have familial or cultural links to India’s western state of Gujarat.
Inquirer Read more
Fulop allies stress independence amid ‘rubber stamp’ claims
Hoping to erode Fulop’s council majority if he wins a second term on Nov. 7, when all nine council seats are also up for grabs, the mayor’s critics are telling voters his allies are mere puppets and they are promising to battle him if he wins next month. Fulop’s council candidates, in turn, are defending their independence and insisting Fulop will not control their vote.
NJ.com Read more
Celebrating Even Early Action Phase of Portal Bridge Project
Thanks to an increasingly desperate predicament involving the aging rail infrastructure that links New Jersey and New York, and the scarcity of funding for any major improvements, even the smallest of steps forward on mass-transit projects are being celebrated as milestones.
NJSpotlight Read more
EDITORIAL: Judge’s ruling affects more than Menendez
U.S. District Court Judge William H. Walls got it right in his ruling Monday to let all 18 counts of the federal indictment against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez to stand.
Asbury Park Press Read more
