By Matt Friedman

Presented by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Good Thursday morning!

Somehow, the Menendez saga has gotten even uglier. We knew that Sen. Menendez’s wife Nadine had allegedly gotten a car as a bribe for her husband following an accident that left her without one. Well, the circumstances of that car crash came to light early Wednesday morning, when The Record and The New York Times both published articles about how she struck and killed a pedestrian, Richard Koop, with her previous Mercedes in Bogota in 2018. Cops pretty much immediately ruled her not at fault because they said Koop was jaywalking.

There’s no evidence presented in either article that Nadine Menendez, who was dating the senator at the time, invoked his name or that he pulled any of the levers of power to get her out of potential trouble. But there are a lot of things about the case that warrant scrutiny. Why did a retired Hackensack cop show up to the scene? Why did Nadine Menendez remain in her car after striking Koop, not getting out to check on him? Why wasn’t she tested for alcohol or drugs? And how vigorously did police follow up on subpoenas for her phone, which she gave over to cops and then took back?

Sen. Menendez told reporters Wednesday that it was “a tragic accident, and obviously we think of the family.” So why did Koop’s family tell reporters they never heard from the couple.

The question about how police pursued the subpoenas is particularly relevant. In an effort to contribute anything new to this story, I looked up Nadine Menendez’s driving record. She had two charges for using a cell phone while driving — one in 2021 that she pleaded guilty to, and one in 2016 that was resolved with a plea that’s not detailed in the records available online. She also got two citations for “failure to observe traffic control device” more than 10 years ago. And she had previous tickets for improper passing and failure to maintain lamps.

It’s possible that Nadine Menendez was held to the same standard of the law as anyone else would have been. But there’s enough information in these reports to legitimately ask if she was.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at [email protected].

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think about other initiatives that I think would be important. How would I get those in and get climate change out? I guess what I would need to do, being a little snarky here, I guess my wife would have to run for governor. I would be the governor’s husband and maybe I could get free speech put in the math and English standards or drug abuse, which I think is a big problem, across all of the different standards.” — NJ State Board of Education Member Andrew Mulvihill during yesterday’s meeting, on First Lady Tammy Murphy’s role in putting climate change into the state’s learning standards.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Kevin O’Toole, Peter McDonough

WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule

A message from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital:

We at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital are deeply disappointed with United Steel Workers 4-200's extreme action to strike. No one benefits from the strike, least of all our nurses. The union should consider the impact it is having on them and their families. Multiple attempts to prevent the strike were rejected, including accepting the union's demands and offering arbitration. RWJUH is already among the highest-staffed hospitals in the state, and our nurses are currently the highest-paid in New Jersey.

THE WIZARDS OF MENLO PARK… AND PARAMUS — New Jersey leaders agree to overhaul troubled veterans homes following scathing DOJ investigation, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday announced a “conceptual agreement” to move state-run veterans homes — which have been criticized for their poor quality of care and high death tolls during the pandemic — out of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and into a new cabinet-level agency. The announcement, made alongside Democratic lawmakers, marks the first major proposal Murphy has endorsed since a scathing report from the Department of Justice found that the quality of care at veterans homes were so poor they violated the constitutional rights of its residents — with issues persisting even years after the worst days of the pandemic. Murphy and the lawmakers also said they expect a federal monitor that would come and also oversee improvements at the veterans homes. The proposal to take the homes out of the purview of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and have a new cabinet-level entity has been publicly floated by Democratic senators since last year.

— “While others struggled, Vineland's veteran home noted for COVID response,” by The Courier-Post’s Phaedra Trethan: “Vineland, though, fared better in the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation report than its North Jersey counterparts. COVID infections spread later to South Jersey, and with infection rates here ‘far lower,’ the report states, Vineland's veterans home ‘had a warehouse full of (personal protective) equipment with no shortages,’ even as the Paramus and Menlo Park facilities struggled with supplying masks, tests and other material to employees fearful of getting sick and bringing the illness home to their own families. … Menlo Park and Paramus, built in 1999 and 1986 respectively, were not physically set up to quarantine or isolate sick patients, the report added, and it was challenging to move sick patients through facilities without exposing them to others. However, ‘Vineland is a modern facility that starkly contrasts with the other properties,’ the report states.”

SMEAR CAMPAIGN — “Assembly candidate spread fecal matter on daycare center doors,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “A Republican candidate for State Assembly in the 36th district plead guilty to smearing fecal matter on the doors of a children’s daycare center in East Rutherford following a 2009 neighborhood dispute with the owner, police records show. Joseph Viso pled guilty to criminal mischief charges after a dispute with the owner of Children’s Studio, whose building was adjacent to an electrical company he owned at the time. He was fined $250. ‘Those people harassed my men every day,”’Viso told the New Jersey Globe. ‘They had cars ticketed every time my men parked on a side street.’ … Viso, 52, told the New Jersey Globe that he had cleaned up the doors. “It was done before anyone got hurt,” he said. ‘I’m not going to defend it. It was wrong. I was a young man. It was a horrible time, and I made a mistake. Obama came into office the year before.’”

A PERC-OLATING ISSUE — “N.J. panel to hear dispute over anti-teachers union emails sent to educators,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “A little-known state commission is set to decide whether school districts must block anti-union emails sent to their teachers. The Public Employment Relations Commission agreed last week to a hearing to potentially settle the dispute, which finds the Wayne Education Association accusing the Wayne Board of Education of violating state law by not stopping a third party from sending emails to teachers urging them to revoke their union dues. Both sides wanted the commission to issue a ruling in their favor, but the body said it needs more information to reach a decision and cautioned that the case could bring First Amendment issues that may be a better fit for state courts. Since 2019, the Sunlight Policy Center, a group critical of teachers unions, has sent emails to Wayne teachers urging them to revoke their dues and providing links to paperwork needed to do just that.”

—Snowflack: “Grin and bear it, says judge – for now” 

—“16th District candidates clash on abortion, parental rights” 

—“Menendez indictment spurs calls to revoke his NJ pension” 

A message from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital:

KIMMOMENTUM — The progressive group End Citizens United // Let America Vote commissioned a poll of 502 likely Democratic voters on the Democratic 2024 Senate primary, both between Rep. Andy Kim and indicted Sen. Robert Menendez, and in a three-way race including both Menendez and Tammy Murphy, who’s considering running. The three-way match shows Kim — the only declared candidate mentioned — with 42 percent, Murphy with 19 percent and Menendez with 5 percent and 34 percent unsure. The two-way match shows Kim leading Menendez 63 percent to Menendez’s 10 percent and 28 percent undecided. This does not stem from a difference in name recognition, which appears to be identical between Kim and Murphy. So are their favorability ratings, at 54 percent favorable each and 6 and 5 percent unfavorable, respectively. Menendez’s rating, as you might expect, is quite poor: 14 percent favorable to 67 percent unfavorable. The poll was conducted on Oct. 3 and 4 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. “The message from New Jersey Democrats is loud and clear: They strongly support Congressman Kim for U.S. Senate and over corrupt Senator Menendez,” said the group’s president, Tiffany Muller, in a press release.

Will Menendez actually run? I very much doubt it. “I’m not going to jeopardize any seat in New Jersey under any circumstances,” he told reporters yesterday, saying he hasn’t made a decision yet.

BETTER CELL SAL — “N.J. construction worker who shoved cop, lit up a cigar during Capitol riot sentenced to prison,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeremy Roebuck: “A New Jersey construction worker who lit up a cigar, then attempted to shove a police officer off a wall during the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol was sentenced to a year and a half in prison Wednesday. Salvatore Vassallo, 60, of Toms River, apologized for his actions, telling a federal judge in Washington that he couldn’t explain what came over him when he grabbed the head and neck of Capitol officer Mark Eveland and pushed during the riot that erupted during the Congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election. He pleaded guilty to one felony count of assaulting an officer during a civil disorder in May.”

GO FOR THE GOLD — Menendez’ scandals upended all kinds of institutions. But one industry is seeing dollar signs, by POLITICO’s Caitlyn Oprysko: Sen. Bob Menendez’s recent indictment on federal corruption charges has upended a number of political institutions, stretching from New Jersey to U.S. policy abroad. But for one industry, the New Jersey Democrat’s latest brush with the law has presented a unique and alluring opportunity. Purveyors of precious metals such as gold and silver have jumped on the spotlight afforded to their wares after prosecutors alleged that Menendez accepted gold bars as payment for bribes. … While gold merchants — ubiquitous on the ad slates of late night cable TV — make sure to note that corruption is bad, they also are trying to put a shine on the Senator’s legal troubles. In keeping gold bars, they argue, Menendez did have a point. “According to one investing expert, investing in gold and other precious metals is a sagacious step against market instability that most Americans should make now (albeit not through bribes),” the PR firm RLM Public Relations wrote in an email to reporters last week, offering up one precious metals executive to explain why.

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

‚—“Josh Gottheimer could have tried to save McCarthy’s speakership. Here’s why he didn’t” 

—“[Pallone] urges feds to work faster in combating deadly water-borne disease” 

—“Van Drew was McCarthy supporter, now looks to help choose new speaker” 

—“Biden taps Kiel for federal judgeship”

—“Here's who NJ Sen. Bob Menendez contacted to allegedly interfere with criminal cases” 

A message from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital:

We at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital are deeply disappointed with United Steel Workers 4-200's extreme action to strike. No one benefits from the strike, least of all our nurses. The union should consider the impact it is having on them and their families. Multiple attempts to prevent the strike were rejected, including accepting the union's demands and offering arbitration. RWJUH is already among the highest-staffed hospitals in the state, and our nurses are currently the highest-paid in New Jersey. Our top priority is our patients. We remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering the highest-quality care in the safest environment. We want to reassure our patients, their families, and our community that we continue to care without interruption. We remain fully open and continue to deliver the high-quality care they deserve.

TOMS RIVER — “Jersey Shore town where childhood cancer cases rose sues to overturn toxic waste settlement,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “A Jersey Shore town where childhood cancer cases rose is trying to overturn a settlement between the state and the corporate successor to the company that dumped toxic waste into the water and ground for decades, turning part of the community into one of America’s worst pollution cleanup sites. Toms River and the environmental group Save Barnegat Bay are suing in state appellate court to overturn a settlement reached in August between the state and German chemical company BASF over decades of environmental damage in and around the former Ciba-Geigy chemical plant … The town and the group called the settlement ‘woefully inadequate,’ saying restoration projects should be undertaken throughout Toms River and nearby communities”

PINO BITTER — “Clifton councilwoman's husband, resident scuffle during meeting,” by The Record’s Matt Fagan: “The altercation followed several weeks of back and forth among several members of the public and Councilwoman Rosemary Pino, who is also the Republican candidate for the Passaic County clerk's position in November. At the center of the discussions has been the Latino Heritage Carnival held last month and organized by Pino … Some said Pino used the carnival to promote her candidacy for the county seat, while others are upset that the carnival rides combined with the severe rainfall from tropical storm Ophelia damaged the park and left it muddy. In response to the social media posts and talk, Pino's lawyer sent a letter to eight individuals, including council members Lauren Murphy and Mary Sadrakula, cautioning them to stop ‘defaming’ her or it could lead to a lawsuit. During the public portion of Tuesday's meeting, one of the letter's recipients, city resident Bart Ciervo, spoke out … ‘You don’t scare me,’ he said … He then asked Pino to resign from the council. It was during his statement that Pino’s husband, Eric Oliver approached Ciervo and the two got into a tussle. The meeting was recessed for about 20 minutes while the two men were removed from the council chambers by police.”

—“Build more on less land? Newark zoning proposal angers city residents” 

—“Palisades Park's failure to pay bills disrupts services, but mayor says that's not so” 

—“Residents of historic Burlington County village upset about proposed warehouse” 

—“This is why Paterson anxiously awaits arrests in outbreak of four homicides”

Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of new episodes – click here.

COMMUTISTS FROM MONTCLAIR — “N.J. commute times rank among worst in U.S. and it’s only getting worse,” by NJ Advance Media’s Amira Sweilem: “Frustrated drivers creeping along New Jersey’s congested highways in bumper-to-bumper traffic know it all too well. The Garden State is a rough haul for the commute-to-work crowd, and the latest data from the U.S. Census shows its only getting worse. New Jersey drivers and mass transit riders have the third worst commute times in the country at an average of 30.3 minutes each way last year, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s up from 28.6 minutes a year earlier. Only commuters in New York and Maryland had it worse in 2022. The national average commute time was 26.4 minutes, according to the Census.”

— “Report: Intervention Needed To Save Local News And Boost Communities”

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