Noticias

The post The Inside Edge with David Wildstein: Naval Records appeared first on New Jersey Globe.

An improper release of Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair)’s military personnel records to her GOP opponent’s campaign has caught the attention of New Jersey’s House and Senate Democrats, who are demanding a congressional investigation into the snafu.

CBS News reported earlier today that when a surrogate for Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign for governor asked the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) for Sherrill’s records, he was given an almost entirely unredacted file. Among the details included in the records he received were Sherrill’s Social Security number and her and her parents’ home addresses.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), leading a letter alongside New Jersey’s two Democratic senators and seven other Democratic representatives (excluding Sherrill herself), asked that the Armed Services, Oversight, and Veterans’ Affairs Committees in both chambers of Congress investigate what the members characterized as a “remarkable Trump administration failure.”

“This is a dangerous and corrupt attempt to weaponize the federal government for political purposes and meddle in New Jersey’s fall elections,” the letter states. “Determining all individuals involved in this illegal act and punishing them to the fullest extent of the law is essential to restoring public trust and reassuring current and former servicemembers that their privacy will not be violated by their own government, nor will their military service be misconstrued for partisan gain.”

Sherrill’s campaign for governor has taken a similar stance on the records release, saying that the Trump administration “blatantly violated federal law.” Gov. Phil Murphy called the release “gutter tactics” from the Ciattarelli campaign, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that he supports a “criminal investigation” into the matter.

CBS reported that the documents the Ciattarelli campaign received appeared to be the same as records Sherrill herself requested when she was preparing for her first congressional campaign in 2017. The NPRC blamed the improper release on a technician error, and said it had reached out to Sherrill to apologize.

The New Jersey Globe reported earlier today that Sherrill did not walk with her graduating class as part of the fallout from a major cheating scandal at the U.S. Naval Academy; no part of the Globe’s story was based on any improperly released files. CBS News also devoted part of its story to that scandal, which took place in 1992.

Sherrill said that she herself committed no wrongdoing, but because she “didn’t turn in some of [her] classmates,” she wasn’t allowed to be an official part of commencement ceremonies. After graduating, Sherrill went on to serve in the Navy for nine years with an unblemished service record, retiring after being recommended for the post of lieutenant commander.

In their letter today, New Jersey Democrats said an investigation into the records release needs to be conducted in order to protect any future military veterans who hope to run for public office.

“Under no circumstances should any veteran who answered the call of duty to serve our country have to worry about their sensitive military records being leaked and used as part of a political smear campaign,” they wrote.

The post N.J. congressional Dems demand investigation into release of Sherrill records appeared first on New Jersey Globe.

Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-Mendham Boro), a former lobbyist for Sesame Workshop, has joined bipartisan calls to protect NJ PBS, which is set to shut down next July. 

The assemblywoman said she will help NJ PBS find a new broadcasting partner or source of funding to save the channel. Dunn had lobbied for America’s Public Television Stations, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood before the federal government before her time in the Assembly.

“NJ PBS provides a distinct New Jersey voice to the current media landscape and a platform for free educational, civic-minded and diverse programming that cannot be viewed anywhere else. The potential loss of NJ PBS is about more than a TV station, it’s about access to programs that strengthen New Jersey families and serve the interests of the public,” Dunn said. “I’m looking to create a working group of like-minded lawmakers, broadcasters, journalists and advocates to find a solution that will save NJ PBS for future generations.”

The Trump administration cut funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting this year, leading WNET, which operates and broadcasts NJ PBS, not to renew its contract. WNET received much of its funding from the CBP. The state government also cut three-quarters of funding for NJ PBS in the most recent budget.

Dunn joins a bipartisan effort to protect public television in New Jersey. State Sens. John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro) and Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick) called for a “top-to-bottom analysis” of public television in New Jersey as they look to retain public TV in the state.

New Jersey is one of 36 states to directly fund public television, and Dunn said she wants to keep it accessible to all — she pointed to HBO’s takeover of Sesame Street as an example of the loss of publicly valuable programming.

“Currently, if parents of small children want to watch the latest episodes of Sesame Street, they have to pay for a premium channel or streaming service, which is especially financially burdensome for families living in high-cost New Jersey. Sesame Street was something that was safe for all kids and reached everyone no matter their income,” Dunn said. “The further public television is forced to shift away from its original mission, the less families will have access to programs that truly make a difference.”

The post GOP assemblywoman joins push to save NJ PBS appeared first on New Jersey Globe.

Democrat Megan O’Rourke’s campaign for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district has earned the support of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3403, a small union that represents government researchers, scientists and administrative employees – including, until recently, O’Rourke herself.

“Dr. O’Rourke has spent her career as a climate change expert, championing sustainable and cost-efficient agriculture for families, which plays a vital role in shaping a stronger future,” AFGE Local 3403 said in its endorsement. “Her campaign inspires our members and strengthens AFGE’s mission to protect federal employees while honoring the foundations of science.”

O’Rourke, a resident of Blairstown, spent five years working at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a top scientist focused on climate change. Earlier this year, she quit that position in protest of President Donald Trump’s “aggressive attacks” on climate science, and she announced her campaign for Congress soon afterwards.

While at the USDA, O’Rourke joined AFGE Local 3403, serving as a union steward for over a year.

O’Rourke is one of eight Democrats hoping to unseat Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) next year; also running are former Summit Councilman Greg Vartan, physician Tina Shah, businessman Brian Varela, criminal justice professor Beth Adubato, former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett, attorney Vale Mendoza, and former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth.

The post O’Rourke earns scientists’ union endorsement in NJ-7 campaign appeared first on New Jersey Globe.