GUEST OPINION: Trump Rallies Against NJ’s Environment

NJ SIERRA CLUB

WILDWOOD, NJ: President Donald Trump is holding a rally today in Wildwood, New Jersey. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration gutted a major Obama-Era Water of the United States (WOTUS) rule protecting drinking water for 117 million people. Sierra Club and other groups are suing on close to 37 rules Trump is trying to weaken, from coal ash to offshore drilling.

“President Trump is coming here to Wildwood, where his policies are actually threatening Wildwood’s environment and economy. He wants to drill off the coast of Wildwood, threatening our coastal tourism and fisheries. He calls climate change a ‘hoax’, and is trying to get rid of programs that help protect us from climate impacts and sea level rise. He is trying to dismantle fifty years of environmental progress at the EPA. Trump has muzzled scientists and has tried to open up public lands and coasts for mining and drilling,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “People are lining up to support Trump while rallying against their own economy and environment. Wildwood’s fisheries and coastal economy are threatened by climate change as well as oil spills. Wildwood is already seeing fish living in storm drains some roads going under water with every full moon, and we’re losing coastal wetlands at an alarming rate.”

The Trump Administration is making our situation worse by attacking the environment and climate change protections on a national level. He has weakened 24 air pollution rule. He pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement and disbanded the Advisory Committee for the Sustained National Climate Assessment.

“New Jersey is one of the most vulnerable states to sea level rise and climate impacts. DEP has projected sea level rise anywhere from 5.0 to 8.8 feet by 2100, which is alarming because Wildwood and our other barrier islands are only 3 feet above sea level. According to a recent Zillow report, New Jersey is top two in the nation for developments in flood prone areas. We are also the second fastest warming state in the nation. Wildwood and other areas in New Jersey want to move forward with renewable energy like offshore wind, but Trump believes that offshore wind causes cancer,” said Tittel. “The only science President Trump and his Administration believes in is science fiction. He has the fictional idea that climate change is not real, but this dangerous delusion puts our communities and families at risk.”

At the end of last year, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) intruduced a new Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR). The MOPR will put a surcharge on new renewable energy resources. Elevating the prices of renewable energy resources will prevent them from displacing more expensive dirty energy, like coal and new fracked gas resources. The new rule will cancel out state incentives for clean energy resources, and will raise costs for 65 million consumers as a start.

“Not only is Trump trying to drill off our costs, but the Fossil Fool in the White House is trying to subsidize dirty energy like natural gas and big oil at the expense of clean energy. He is trying to open up our public lands as well as our costs to drilling and mining. He is putting our national treasures at risk by lifting mining restrictions in areas like the Tongass National Forest and Bears Ears and is even pushing uranium mining in areas around the Grand Canyon. Trump’s greedy agenda has sided with corporate polluters with new FERC fossil fuel subsidies that will cost us billions of dollars, changes to NAFTA, and rollbacks to the Clean Power Plan and CAFE,” said Jeff Tittel. “He has pulled out of the Paris Accords and the Clean Power Plan because he is afraid he would have to regulate himself since he is a major source of hot air.”

EPA studies have shown that rolling back the Clean Power Plan would lead to over 1,400 premature deaths and 40,000 cases of asthma each year. The EPA also found that freezing CAFE standards would result in 41,000 deaths and 1.67 million cases of asthma over a decade.

“Some say that Trump’s tweets make them sick, but it is actually his environmental policies and his war on the environment. His own EPA has found that rolling back the Clean Power Plan and freezing CAFE standards will result in over 42,000 premature deaths over a decade. Trump has diminished lead reduction programs, refused to set standards for dozens of toxic chemicals like PFOAS in our drinking water, and failed to completely clean up Superfund sites and deal with the climate impacts to these sites. He won’t enforce the Lautenberg Act and is constantly siding with industry over public safety, playing Russian Roulette with our environment and our health,” said Jeff Tittel. “Trump’s EPA is becoming a polluters agency. They have rolled back 85 environmental regulations, like the Endangered Species Act, and they’re more interested in checking off cleanups on paper than making polluters pay.”

Trump has revoked Obama-era orders to make infrastructure and building standards incorporate sea level rise and flooding projections. He has eliminated the Clean Power Plan, revoked the California Clean Waiver Rule, and increased limits on methane leaks.

“We need to stand up to make sure his actions are not going unchecked. Sierra Club and others are suing on over 40 rules he is trying to weaken, from coal ash to offshore drilling. We are also fighting the administration for hiding scientific reports and holding private meetings with lobbyists, as well as challenging permits for projects like the Dakota Access Pipeline and LNG terminals. Trump is the worst president in history when it comes to the environment, and we must fight back. We have to stand up and continue to fight to protect our planet for our grandchildren and great grandchildren. Trump’s lawlessness and disregard for institutions is putting our environment and safety at risk,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We must keep fighting to make sure our air is clean to breathe, our water is pure to drink, and our open spaces are protected. We must fight to Make America Green Again.”

Marc Anthony Serenades Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

Atlantic City, N.J. (

January 27,

2019)

– Six-Time Latin Grammy Award and two-time Grammy Award winner, Marc Anthony serenaded a packed Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on Saturday night, January 25 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

Marc Anthony crooned through his hour and a half long 16-song set encompassing his entire career including his classic hits like “Flor Pálida,” “Palabras del Alma,” “Tu Amor Me Hace Bien” and “Vivir Mi Vida.”

Before his energetic set in front of a captivating audience, Marc Anthony presented Hard Rock Atlantic City President, Joe Lupo, with signed Fender® Telecaster as a donation to the constantly-growing Hard Rock Memorabilia collection.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

Set on 17 acres, with the legendary Atlantic City Boardwalk as its backdrop, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has become Atlantic City’s go-to entertainment destination, boasting 2,200 slots, 120 table games, more than 20 first-class restaurants and lounges, and world-class entertainment,

including Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, the beachside Sound Waves and Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club. The hotel and casino also features the iconic Hard Rock Cafe, overlooking the Atlantic City Boardwalk, showcasing a brand new elevated menu and state-of-the-art stage, allowing for an amplified level of service and entertainment. Along with an endless array of upscale amenities, including world-class shopping and the brand’s signature full-service Rock Spa and Salon, featuring 31 treatment rooms, the new, music-inspired property offers lavish guest rooms and suites, with stunning views of the city and Atlantic Ocean. From family vacations and business trips to weddings, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City offers an unparalleled experience. Each of the hotel’s guest rooms and suites radiates a contemporary style, including Hard Rock’s signature The Sound of Your Stay® music amenity program, which allows guests to set the mood with complimentary vinyl records or jam out on a Fender guitar in the privacy of their own room. Hotel guests can enjoy high speed, property-wide Wi-Fi, 24-Hour In-Room Dining, towel and chair service at Hard Rock Beach or at the indoor pool, and 24-Hour Access to Body Rock® Fitness Center. For more information and to book your stay, please visit

hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com

These Behaviors Make You A Scam Target

(NAPSI)—If you spend a lot of time on social media sites or looking for great online deals, you may wear a

bullseye

when it comes to scammers hunting for prey, according to groundbreaking fraud research from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust and the Stanford Center on Longevity.

A recent study found nearly half of America is likely to interact with fraudsters-but you can protect yourself.

Researchers surveyed more than 1,400 Americans and Canadians who were targeted by scammers and reported the fraud to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which tracks scams. Nearly half of those surveyed did not engage with the fraudster. However, 30 percent engaged to some degree but ultimately did not lose money, while 23 percent engaged with the fraudster or offer and lost money.

What separates victims from non-victims?

“The path to victimization begins with engagement,” said FINRA Foundation President Gerri Walsh. “Social media and website scams are flourishing. Every time you respond to a friend request from someone you don’t know or click through to an unfamiliar website, you run the risk of being exposed to a scam.”

Your chance of falling victim to a scam varies by type—for instance, online purchase scams, tech support ploys,

fake

check or sweepstakes frauds—and by the method in which you are exposed to the offer. For those exposed to a scam through social media or a website, the numbers are chilling. When exposed to a scam on social media, 91 percent engaged and 53 percent lost money. The odds of losing money to website scams were only slightly lower: 81 percent of consumers in the study who were exposed to a fraud via a website said they engaged—and 50 percent lost money.

Other factors heighten the likelihood of falling for a fraud. Consumers were more likely to be victimized if they were isolated and didn’t have anyone to discuss the offer with, according to the study. Consequently, those who engaged scammers and lost money were less likely to be married and more likely to be widowed or divorced. “Sadly, loneliness and fraud victimization seem to go hand in hand,” noted Walsh.

You’re also more likely to engage and lose money if you’re feeling financial strain, or have low levels of financial literacy, the study found.

Protect Yourself

Take these steps to protect yourself from fraud:

• Ask for input from others.

Scammers try to isolate their victims. Don’t be afraid to contact a friend, or a company or organization you trust for advice. It also helps to do additional research before sending any money. One easy action: Do an Internet search to see if the website or pitch has been flagged as fraudulent or potentially fraudulent by news organizations or members of the public.

• Focus on your financial health and literacy.

Individuals under financial strain and those with lower levels of financial literacy may be more susceptible to scammers.

• Knowledge is power.

Knowing about scams and scammer tactics can be your best defense in successfully reducing the effect of scams. Keep up with the latest frauds by subscribing to consumer newsletters and seeking out information on current scams.

One-third of consumers who were targeted by a scammer, but did not engage with the offer, already knew about the specific type of scam. In addition, consumers who understood the tactics and behaviors of scammers tended not to engage with fraudsters.

To learn more about how to protect your money, visit

www.FINRA.org/LearnMore

“Journalist” Can’t Decide: Slumping Gun Sales or Best Year Ever?

source NRA-ILA

On the eve of the annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas, Associated Press reporter Lisa Marie Pane wrote an article titled, “

Gun industry gathers amid slumping sales, rising tensions

.” But it seems as though the AP and their reporter were more concerned with promoting an agenda than accurately reporting the news or reviewing readily available data.

The story was published by the AP on January 19

, picked up by

ABC News on the same day

, and reproduced in various other national and local outlets in the following days.

The opening paragraph references “slumping sales,” and later paragraphs expound on the reasons and impact of this supposed downturn. The author also makes sure to gratuitously proclaim that the SHOT show is being held “about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from the deadliest mass shooting modern U.S. history” [sic].

Slumping firearm sales? Really?

Pane’s half-cocked story came out about two weeks after

The Washington Examiner

published “

Record gun sales checks in 2019, NICS at all-time high: FBI

” and after

The Hill

published an article titled, “

2019 gun sale background checks highest since system launch in 1998

.”

NICS checks are not a mystery or a Friday afternoon news dump; detailed reports are issued monthly. In early December, MarketWatch published a piece titled “

Gun-purchase background checks on track for record high in 2019

.” Similar articles were run in other outlets.

Even the Associated Press itself ran such an article,

published on December 3

of last year and also picked up by ABC News on that same day.

The author?

You guessed it: Lisa Marie Pane, the

same

author who wrote the more recent piece alleging slumping sales.

Record-breaking pace or slumping sales? A closer look at the NICS reports can provide some answers.

The FBI reports there were 28,369,750

NICS firearm background checks in 2019 – the most ever.

Now, this number does include permit checks and rechecks but the FBI also provides a breakdown of NICS checks by type.

Last year saw the fourth-highest number of checks for handguns and the sixth-highest year for dealer sales checks ever.

That does not include NICS checks on private sales (41,775 last year) or all dealer sales to permit holders in the 24 states that issue so-called NICS-exempt permits, which can be used as an alternative to the NICS check when purchasing a gun from a licensed dealer.

That means that the number of sales checks may appear artificially low. As the FBI notes in the “NICS Firearm Background Checks: Year by State/Type” report, “Since the permit check is done in place of the NICS check in most of the affected states, the low handgun statistics are often balanced out by a higher number of handgun permit checks.”

In other words, some number of the 3,738,203 permit checks run in NICS exemption states were likely people who ultimately purchased a handgun (or other firearm) with their permits, perhaps even multiple firearms. The overall NICS records do not necessarily account for these permit-based sales. What we do know, however, is that there were a lot of NICS checks for the issuance of NICS-exempt permits.

Another important consideration is that firearms are durable goods – they do not spoil or breakdown, assuming minimal care. Firearms purchased in 2018 still exist. Firearms purchased in the late 90s, when NICS began, still exist. Not every year will be a record-breaking year for sales, and it can be misleading to label any year that doesn’t significantly top the last one as a “slump.”

Maybe Lisa Marie Pane can’t make up her mind, but we’re here to tell you: 2019

was

a record-breaking year for sales and permit checks in total. That indicates the American tradition of firearms ownership is as strong and vibrant as ever, and attendees at the 2020 SHOT Show have much to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association continues to work hard to protect your Second Amendment rights, just as we have for 148 years.

Legislative Package to Improve Access to Palliative and End-of-Life Care Now Law

(TRENTON) –

With nearly

40 million

adults throughout the country having a serious illness within the past three years and nearly

20 million

suffering from chronic pain that interferes with their daily activities, Assembly Democrats Shanique Speight,

Gov. Murphy

Cleopatra Tucker and Nancy Pinkin have sponsored three bills to improve access to both palliative and end-of-life care in New Jersey. All three bills were signed into law by the Governor this week – one on Monday and two on Tuesday.

The aim of each law is to help prepare both medical professionals and the general public for the potential need for end-of-life and palliative care. One law (formerly bill A-4682/

S-3118

) will establish a public awareness campaign to promote early conversations about this subject to help improve decision-making when it comes to the kind of care patients may need during the final stages of their life.

Another law (formerly bill A-4683/

S-3116

) will require hospitals and various long-term care facilities to identify the end-of-life care needs of new patients/residents, provide them and their families with information and train personnel. The stipulations will apply to assisted living facilities and residences, personal care homes, nursing homes and other locations where sick and elderly individuals are supported.

“Many people never learn about or give much thought to the

kind of care

they will want towards the end of their lives, which may be something that greatly impacts their well-being,” said Assemblywoman Speight (D-Essex). “It’s important for patients to have conversations about what they want their final stages of life to look like and for caregivers to be equipped with the knowledge they need to make that happen. These laws will increase awareness and spark more discussions about end-of-life care.”

“With the

median

age of most towns increasing rather than staying the same, our senior population continues to grow,” said Assemblywoman Tucker (D-Essex). “We have to consider the needs of our aging population and find a way to provide them with compassionate care wherever they are in their lives. We should be helping them plan ahead to ensure their needs are met in their final years.”

Individuals struggling with pain and detrimental symptoms due to medical issues that are not necessarily life threatening will also receive assistance through the final law (formerly bill A-4685/

S-3117

). This law will require hospital emergency departments to utilize a screening tool to identify patients in need of palliative care and then provide those patients with information on the benefits and applicability of that care.

It will also require hospitals to keep the unique needs of patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities in mind whenever it is determined they may need palliative care.

“Palliative care is about having the ability to experience the best quality of life possible,” said Assemblywoman Pinkin (D-Middlesex). “Palliative care plans help people identify who can take care of them when they return home and what resources will be necessary to meet their needs. Educating patients upon their arrival to the emergency room will save time and resources while ensuring that the patient has a voice in the care they receive for their chronic illnesses or end-of-life needs.”

*Enjoy Ice Skating at Cooper River until Feb. 17

PENNSAUKEN, NJ–Cooper River Park has once again transformed into a winter wonderland with tasty treats, and family fun! WinterFest Ice Skating at Cooper River now open until

February 17, 2020

. WinterFest Ice Skating at Cooper River is presented by the Camden County Board of Freeholder.

New this year!

WinterFest will include more family fun with arcade games in the heated tent and outdoor games for families to enjoy when they are off the ice.

Click here for a listing of all WinterFest events

. Check back often, as events are added each week!

Hours

For closures due to inclement weather, please visit Facebook.

Monday – Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 5 PM to 9 PM

Friday: 5 PM to 10 PM

Saturday: 12 PM to 10 PM

Sunday: 12 PM to 9 PM

SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS:

MLK Day / Monday 1/20: 12 PM-9 PM

Valentine’s Day / Friday 2/14: Regular hours

Last Day / Monday 2/17: 12 PM – 9 PM

Prices

Skate Rental (all ages): $4

Rink Admission

Adults: $7

Children 5-12: $6

Children 4 & under: Free

Seniors: $4

Veterans: $4

Skate Buddy (skating assistance device): Free

Skate Sharpening: $5 per pair

GROUP SKATE:

15-50 Guests: Adults $10 / Child $8

51 – 99 Guests: Adults $9 / Child $7

100+ Guests: Adults $8 / Child $6

*Minimum 15 Guest for Discount

*Price includes Admission & Rental

Location!

WinterFest is located in Cooper River Park on the corner of Cuthbert Blvd and Park Drive (behind Crown Plaza), in Cherry Hill

Party Package

WinterFest is the perfect place to hold a fun and unique birthday party! The birthday package is $250 and includes:

Skate admission and skate rental for up to 15 participants

Choice of hot dog, pizza slice, or burger with chips and a drink for each participant

1 free return admission for the birthday person

Setup and cleanup • Additional participants are $10 each

Parking

Free parking is available in parking lots on either side of the ice rink and on North Park Drive.

Skating Lessons

Winter Fest will hold Skating Lessons for people of all ages and skill level. Lessons are taught by our Professional Skating Instructor, Jacqueline Barr. Our Skating Sessions & Fees include: 30 Minute Lesson with our Instructor, Followed by 30 Minutes of Practice and Skate Rental for a total of 1 hour on the Ice each week. Classes are held on Sunday from 9 -10 AM.

Space is Limited. No Refunds. No Makeups.

A waiver will be required to fill out and sign on the first day of class. Payment must be made in full on the first day of class to ensure your spot.

Attire: Warm Winter Clothes in Layers. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Coats, Hats, Gloves, Scarves, and Long Socks are encouraged. Layers are a great way to stay warm as well as Ski or Snow Pants.

**Private Lessons are also available upon request. Please contact our Skating Professional, Jacqueline Barr for more details.

For More Information Please Contact our Skating Professional directly at

Jacqueline_Barr@comcast.net.

Pleasantville Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting 15-Year-Old Naimah Bell

MAYS LANDING- An 18 year-old Pleasantville man pleaded guilty on Thursday in the fatal July shooting of Naimah Bell, 15, also of Pleasantville, First Assistant Prosecutor Cary Shill announced.

Nahquil Lovest pleaded guilty to a charge of first degree Aggravated Manslaughter and must serve 10 years in New Jersey state prison subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), which mandates that the defendant must serve 85% of the sentence.

“The reality is that there is no amount of time the defendant can serve that will bring Na’imah back to life. The defendant’s reckless handling of a firearm robbed Na’imah and her family of all of her potential. Now, two lives have been lost, which leaves us all wondering about who they could have developed into,” said Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner.

In October, Lovest was indicted on the following charges: Aggravated Manslaughter, second degree unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, fourth degree Aggravated Assault Pointing a Weapon, in the fatal shooting of 15 year-old Naimah Bell of Pleasantville.

Lovest was arrested on Friday, July 26, 2019, in connection to the murder of Bell was shot and killed inside the address 102 S. Massachusetts Ave., Atlantic City, shortly after 4:00 a.m., on July 25, 2019. An initial autopsy was conducted and determined that the pending cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head and the pending manner of death as a homicide.

The arrest was the result of a cooperative investigation between the Atlantic City Police Department, Pleasantville Police Department and Atlantic County Major Crimes Unit.

Lovest was arrested without incident by members of the Atlantic City Police Department Violent Crime Unit and Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, with the assistance of the Atlantic County SWAT team. He is lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, awaiting sentencing. Assistant Prosecutor Laura Heisman represents the state in this matter.

Gustafson Thrilled To Learn Pelosi Is Coming To Support Norcross

Pelosi visit is a near perfect illustration of the difference between Norcross and Gustafson

COLLINGSWOOD – Claire Gustafson, Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s first congressional district, said she was “thrilled” to learn Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is coming to Camden County to support Congressman Donald Norcross next month.

“Nancy Pelosi coming to Camden County to support Donald Norcross is a near perfect illustration of the differences I have with Congressman Norcross,” Claire Gustafson said. “Pelosi and Norcross support sanctuary states, abortion on demand, a sham impeachment and continually attack the Second Amendment. In Congress I’ll say no to sanctuary states, no to abortion as a form of birth control, no to this impeachment nonsense and no to the assault on our Second Amendment.”

“I found it almost laughable that in

one report

it was said that, ‘Congressman Norcross is a key member of Speaker Pelosi’s leadership team and is widely recognized for his leadership on job creation.’” Gustafson added, “It was Norcross who, in February 2014 when he first ran for Congress,

proudly proclaimed

he ‘led the charge on getting the Economic Opportunity Act passed into law’ and promised it was ‘a game-changing law that will help create thousands of jobs in our region.’”

Gustafson asked, “If Congressman Norcross is such a leader on job creation where are the thousands of jobs he promised nearly six years ago?”

“Perhaps Pelosi or Norcross will explain why he now downplays his role in getting the Economic Opportunity Act passed.” Gustafson said, “I’ll be looking forward to the Congresswoman’s visit and hope we finally learn where the thousands of jobs Mr. Norcross promised are.”

How To Make Your Business Look More Professional

Gloucestercitynews.net(January 28, 2020)–Running a business is not an easy task, and it is down to every business owner to make choices that are going to benefit the company in the long term. Some of these choices will be about how to make the business look more professional to the outside world – to customers, suppliers, and investors – in order to make more sales and increase profits.

It can be hard to determine just what is going to help do this, especially when you are working in the business and are close to what is happening. Ideally, you will want to take a step back and reassess what you are doing to ensure that your business is as professional as possible. Here are some ways to achieve this.

A Good Website

When a potential customer comes across a new company and thinks about buying from it, the first thing they are going to do is check its website.

It is expected that all businesses would have a website

(if there are no results when a name is searched, it will look highly suspicious), but that website also needs to look professional in order to win business.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

There are no excuses for a poor looking website; there are many web designers who will be able to help you decide what you are looking for and create something that works perfectly for your business. Even if you choose to do the job yourself, intuitive programs such as

WordPress

mean that you don’t have to understand coding to have a great looking and user-friendly website. This is essential if you want to look professional.

Your Premises

Some people choose to

work from home

, but others would prefer not to, or they don’t have a choice; if they own and operate a customer-facing business, then working from home is not going to work for them. If this is the case and you need premises to sell items from or to meet customers in, then you need to ensure it looks good and is well maintained. A shoddy-looking building is not going to inspire confidence in any potential customer, and an investor might not want to give you any money either if you can’t look after your office or warehouse space properly.

Installing a brand new building in place of an old one, such as

a steel building from Armstrong Steel

, will help you to look more professional. Everything will look clean and well maintained, and you will be able to specify exactly what you want, ensuring that your employees are comfortable too. This will give a great first impression to anyone who visits your business.

Have Business Cards

Ordering business cards

may seem like an unnecessary expense, especially when you are just starting out, but they can show your business in a much more professional light.

Networking

is an essential part of business, and if you don’t have business cards to hand out, what will you do when you are meeting new people who might be able to help you? You will either miss the opportunity or write your details on a scrap of paper – both ideas are unprofessional, and a business card would solve these problems.

Brigid Harrison, Candidate for Congress, Calls for Van Drew\’s Resignation

[January 27, 2020 – Longport, New Jersey] – As first reported in the

New York Times

on Sunday, an unpublished manuscript by former National Security Adviser John R. Bolton confirmed that President Trump directly told Bolton in August that Trump planned to freeze $391 million in security assistance to the country of Ukraine until officials helped with investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens.

The following is a statement from Brigid Callahan Harrison, Democratic candidate for New Jersey\’s 2nd Congressional District:

\”I began this campaign to challenge Jeff Van Drew for one reason – because he put his self-interest ahead of the people of the 2nd Congressional District. This issue has now become far deeper and more serious than the self interest of a career politician.

\”Van Drew chose to violate the trust of those who voted for him, including me. He ignored the voices of New Jersey\’s second congressional district, the progressives, moderates, and independents who united to get him elected. He then accepted a backroom Trump handshake that has already brought him hundreds of thousands of dollars of support.

\”But with the recent revelations by John Bolton, it is now clear that this issue is far more severe.

\”Van Drew chose to obstruct Congress\’s rightful authority to investigate very serious allegations and assisted in withholding crucial information related to the 2020 election, and with Mr. Bolton\’s account, there is now a clear smoking gun.

\”These actions are no longer just disgraceful or disrespectful or based on self-interest, they have now evolved to the point that Van Drew clearly helped conspire to help Trump get away with a crime.

\”I was the first to publicly suggest that Van Drew deserved a primary challenge for his actions, and now it is clear, with this breaking and developing information, it is time for him to step aside and resign.

\”Oligarchies are created when citizens are denied access to information – the very tactic that Van Drew sought to use to enable President Trump to use the federal government to influence the outcome of the 2020 election. Van Drew has not only been a pawn to Donald Trump but is now a clear co-conspirator to a crime and can no longer serve our community effectively.”