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♪

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>> who did Senator Menendez not

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trying to influence in the

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interest of his wife and

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friends?

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I'm David Cruz.

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Our panel champing at the bit to

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answer that question.

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A health care writer for NJ

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Spotlight News, a reporter for

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Politico, and a politics

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reporter for NJ.com.

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We will hear from them in just a

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moment but we begin today with a

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look at the widening scandal

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around Senator Bob Menendez.

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Republicans called for an

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investigation into the senator's

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alleged reaching out to the

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former Attorney General to

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influence the outcome of a

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criminal case involving one of

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his current co-defendants.

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Anthony Bucha is one of the

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signatories to the letter.

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He joins us now.

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Welcome back to Reporters

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Roundtable.

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How are you doing?

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>> it's great to be here.

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Thanks.

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David: the more you read the

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indictment, the more it sounds

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like a lifetime movie of the

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week.

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Let's try to unpack this

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starting with the meeting

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between the senator and former

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Attorney General gray wall or

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one of his subordinates.

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You are a lawyer.

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That's totally inappropriate.

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>> it is.

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The allegations in this

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indictment are disturbing.

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I don't practice a lot of

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criminal law but I can tell you

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that whenever you are an

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attorney or someone who wants to

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meet with the prosecutor, they

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don't come to your office to sit

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down for a private -- private

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meeting.

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You go to the prosecutor's

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office and sit down with the

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prosecutor or one of the

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assistant prosecutors and there

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are investigators.

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So that the discussions are

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known by all as to what took

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place in those meetings.

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Is very disturbing when you have

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an Attorney General for this

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type of meeting.

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Christiane: -- David: it doesn't

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specifically say that anything

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did anyone -- that anyone did

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anything wrong.

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The defendant in that case did

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get a better plea deal than the

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original offer after the

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meetings.

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That's a little suspect, isn't

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it?

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>> again, all of these things

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combine to get the text we've

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seen, some of the allegations

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that are alleged.

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How did we get to that point?

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as a caucus and a member of the

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judiciary, we are asking the

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Senate and Judiciary chair to

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reconvene the judiciary, appoint

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an independent counsel, and give

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us subpoena powers so we can get

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to the bottom of this stuff.

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People have to have a trust that

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the Attorney General's office is

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operating in the right fashion.

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We don't know whether or not any

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of the protocols were breached

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or weren't properly followed.

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I have to tell you, I think some

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of them probably we were.

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Especially a private meeting

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with the United States Senator

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over cases that are currently

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pending in the office.

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We don't know whether anybody

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was compromised in the office.

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There are so many questions that

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remain unanswered.

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I think that the public would

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feel better having an

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independent investigation that

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is a bipartisan investigation.

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Judiciary is made up of

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Democrats and Republicans.

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I would even submit that

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bringing on a former Democrat

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appointed Attorney General and a

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former Republican appointed

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Attorney General could serve as

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special counsel together to

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assist us in sorting through

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this stuff to make sure that

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there's nothing out there that's

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not being disclosed.

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Secondly, to give the public

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some ease to know that things

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are being handled appropriately

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in the office.

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If we need to change some

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protocols, this would give us an

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opportunity to really look at

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that to make sure that nothing

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like this ever happens again.

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David: what about this fatal

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crash involving Nadine Madame

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Dess -- Menendez?

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do you think that this needs

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closer examination?

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>> I think it does.

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The Attorney General's office is

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starting that investigation.

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Again, when you look at this

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stuff and you hear the dashcam

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video and you recognize that her

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phone was never turned over to

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the police.

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We don't know whether or not

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this was a distracted driving

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type of incident also.

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I think that protocol in New

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Jersey is that in a fatal

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accident, if there is probable

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cause to believe that the driver

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may have been impaired, then

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they have to do sobriety tests.

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David: none of those are in

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evidence at the moment.

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>> I would suggest that a fatal

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accident in and of itself would

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be probable cause for the police

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to say, let's double check for

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alcohol or drugs in this

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accident.

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It would seem to me that that's

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the way this would be standard

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operating procedure for most

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police departments.

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David: let's get a panel

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question.

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>> on a different topic

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entirely, your caucus has raised

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a lot of questions about the

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Murphy administration's handling

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of the Veterans Affairs,

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veterans homes, nursing homes

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for veterans during the

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pandemic.

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I'm curious if you have any

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thoughts on what should be done.

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We've seen all these reports

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about the problems there which

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are ongoing.

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Have you heard from members with

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ideas about how to fix these

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problems?

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>> I understand that a package

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of bills is being considered and

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the administration is talking

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about splitting oversight into

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two different divisions.

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So until I get an opportunity to

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see that stuff, it's hard to

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comment.

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I can tell you that again, this

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report was just really

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disturbing in terms of what went

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on in these nursing homes.

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The fact that some of it is

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still going on today.

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I can tell you firsthand that

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when this pandemic hit, I

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received a call from the mayor

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in one of my towns in the middle

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of the night.

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He was distraught.

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He said, I have several group

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homes in town.

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The folks that oversee these

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group homes were leaving the

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residence in the group homes.

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He said, what can we do.

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Many of the residents had Covid.

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They didn't want to get Covid so

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they left.

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I called the county and I called

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the state.

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Essentially what we were told at

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that time was, look.

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You will have to handle this

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yourself.

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I just thought that was the

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wrong answer.

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David: I have to let you go in a

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minute.

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Elections coming up in the fall.

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Your party has been controlling

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the narrative all summer long.

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Do you think parental

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notification and curriculum

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concerns are going to be winning

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issues for you?

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do you think abortion might not

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be a winning issue for you?

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>> I certainly think those

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kitchen table issues are going

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to be important.

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We saw that two years ago.

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I think the parental rights

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situation and those things

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dealing with schools are

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critically important to parents.

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So I do think that it's going to

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play a major role in the

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selection.

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David: abortion not so much?

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>> I don't think that's on the

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top of people's minds.

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We aren't seeing that when we

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are knocking on doors.

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I have to tell you, even in my

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caucus, I have folks that are

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pro-life, pro-life with

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exceptions, and I've got

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pro-choice people.

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So I don't see this as a major

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issue where people need to be

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concerned about what's going to

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happen if there's a shift in

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power.

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I think people are more

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concerned with their quality of

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life.

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Recent polls show that people

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feel their quality of life is

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not improving, it's declining.

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That's a result of crime, people

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stealing cars out of driveways.

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It's a result of the attorney

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general interfering with parents

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ability to raise their children

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and have information delivered

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from their schools on what their

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kids are doing.

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I think that when you look at

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the Murphy administration

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approached all of these issues

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and the Democrat leadership

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refusal to check some of these

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progressive policies, I think

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that will play a major part in

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this election and I think our

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party is ready to bring the

292
00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:52,200
state back to the center again

293
00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,566
where I think a majority of

294
00:10:54,566 --> 00:10:55,333
residents, that's where they are

295
00:10:55,333 --> 00:10:58,033
at.

296
00:10:58,033 --> 00:11:01,400
David: we shall see.

297
00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:02,200
Tony Bucha, good to see you.

298
00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:11,366
Things were coming on with us.

299
00:11:11,366 --> 00:11:12,000
David: let's start with

300
00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:12,666
Menendez.

301
00:11:12,666 --> 00:11:18,566
What you make of this reporting

302
00:11:18,566 --> 00:11:19,900
on the Menendez meeting.

303
00:11:19,900 --> 00:11:20,633
I'm not a lawyer but it seems

304
00:11:20,633 --> 00:11:23,600
inappropriate.

305
00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:24,166
There's an internal

306
00:11:24,166 --> 00:11:26,466
investigation going on now.

307
00:11:26,466 --> 00:11:28,433
The judge throughout another

308
00:11:28,433 --> 00:11:30,400
sweetheart deal from another

309
00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,633
Menendez codefendant.

310
00:11:32,633 --> 00:11:34,933
Starting to see a trend here?

311
00:11:34,933 --> 00:11:38,233
>> definitely a trend.

312
00:11:38,233 --> 00:11:40,666
If nobody proves that this was a

313
00:11:40,666 --> 00:11:41,233
legal, it is certainly

314
00:11:41,233 --> 00:11:44,866
unethical.

315
00:11:44,866 --> 00:11:45,566
The fact that the prosecutors,

316
00:11:45,566 --> 00:11:49,933
the fact that the U.S. attorney

317
00:11:49,933 --> 00:11:52,233
met with 1 -- Menendez, it was

318
00:11:52,233 --> 00:11:52,900
made very clear to him that

319
00:11:52,900 --> 00:11:53,900
Menendez wants this guy to get

320
00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:57,366
off.

321
00:11:57,366 --> 00:11:58,400
The indictment takes pains to

322
00:11:58,400 --> 00:11:59,033
go, nothing inappropriate

323
00:11:59,033 --> 00:12:01,300
happened.

324
00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:02,666
We've been talking about the

325
00:12:02,666 --> 00:12:03,800
Attorney General but let's talk

326
00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:04,500
about the U.S. attorney for a

327
00:12:04,500 --> 00:12:05,733
second.

328
00:12:05,733 --> 00:12:06,400
The developer was facing 14

329
00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:08,400
counts.

330
00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:13,466
Years and years in prison.

331
00:12:13,466 --> 00:12:15,300
After all this, Menendez pushing

332
00:12:15,300 --> 00:12:17,366
so hard on this guy, he works

333
00:12:17,366 --> 00:12:20,133
out a plea deal to one count of

334
00:12:20,133 --> 00:12:20,900
bank fraud and he's going to get

335
00:12:20,900 --> 00:12:21,266
probation.

336
00:12:21,266 --> 00:12:23,500
Doesn't that wreak?

337
00:12:23,500 --> 00:12:25,000
are we supposed to set here and

338
00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:29,766
be, no questions.

339
00:12:29,766 --> 00:12:32,333
Come on.

340
00:12:32,333 --> 00:12:36,333
David: it's the same deal with

341
00:12:36,333 --> 00:12:38,933
the other who was also facing a

342
00:12:38,933 --> 00:12:39,600
tougher plea deal and got a

343
00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,800
better plea deal afterwards.

344
00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,066
Usually the reverse is the case.

345
00:12:46,066 --> 00:12:47,633
>> The fact that the prosecutors

346
00:12:47,633 --> 00:12:50,400
met with Menendez.

347
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,300
Look, I understand that there's

348
00:12:52,300 --> 00:12:53,000
a lot of factors at play here

349
00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,100
and we are all human.

350
00:12:55,100 --> 00:12:59,266
But prosecutors told everyone

351
00:12:59,266 --> 00:13:00,100
else, normal people to a pretty

352
00:13:00,100 --> 00:13:01,033
high standard.

353
00:13:01,033 --> 00:13:01,700
To the standard of the law.

354
00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:04,233
Ethics.

355
00:13:04,233 --> 00:13:08,466
I think if you have a senator

356
00:13:08,466 --> 00:13:10,400
pressuring you very clearly,

357
00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:11,133
these are allegations.

358
00:13:11,133 --> 00:13:13,933
If you do have the senator

359
00:13:13,933 --> 00:13:15,100
pressuring you and it's likely

360
00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:17,233
that they told prosecutors who

361
00:13:17,233 --> 00:13:18,000
he was, why didn't you report it

362
00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,566
or do something about it?

363
00:13:20,566 --> 00:13:22,466
this is not the time that I

364
00:13:22,466 --> 00:13:22,866
would want.

365
00:13:22,866 --> 00:13:25,766
Blow the whistle.

366
00:13:25,766 --> 00:13:29,900
David: you also did some digging

367
00:13:29,900 --> 00:13:30,633
into Nadine Menendez's driving

368
00:13:30,633 --> 00:13:31,000
record.

369
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:31,700
What did you find out and how

370
00:13:31,700 --> 00:13:36,300
does that tie into the case?

371
00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:37,000
>> I can tell you that she had

372
00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:37,400
two charges.

373
00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,566
One was resolved with some kind

374
00:13:39,566 --> 00:13:40,300
of plea that I can't tell for

375
00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:42,800
sure.

376
00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:43,466
Driving while using her cell

377
00:13:43,466 --> 00:13:48,366
phone.

378
00:13:48,366 --> 00:13:49,133
Now that's -- people don't get

379
00:13:49,133 --> 00:13:52,566
it.

380
00:13:52,566 --> 00:13:53,700
To be pulled over twice like

381
00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:55,866
that raises questions.

382
00:13:55,866 --> 00:13:57,133
It raises questions of, we don't

383
00:13:57,133 --> 00:13:57,833
know about whether they fully

384
00:13:57,833 --> 00:14:00,766
pursued that phone.

385
00:14:00,766 --> 00:14:01,466
I would think if you have two

386
00:14:01,466 --> 00:14:06,266
charges on your record for using

387
00:14:06,266 --> 00:14:08,300
a handheld cell phone,

388
00:14:08,300 --> 00:14:10,600
and you hit and kill a guy come

389
00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,533
even if he is jaywalking, that

390
00:14:12,533 --> 00:14:13,200
is certainly an avenue worth

391
00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,966
pursuing.

392
00:14:15,966 --> 00:14:16,900
One thing that is lost about

393
00:14:16,900 --> 00:14:19,666
this is, this was in pagoda.

394
00:14:19,666 --> 00:14:20,433
It doesn't look like this was on

395
00:14:20,433 --> 00:14:22,633
a major highway.

396
00:14:22,633 --> 00:14:27,233
I know it's all separate issue.

397
00:14:27,233 --> 00:14:30,566
How fast was she driving?

398
00:14:30,566 --> 00:14:33,000
we need to talk about how we

399
00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:33,600
prioritize drivers over

400
00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,166
pedestrians in this culture.

401
00:14:36,166 --> 00:14:36,733
It's not just this.

402
00:14:36,733 --> 00:14:39,000
It's everywhere.

403
00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:39,633
It gets ridiculous after a

404
00:14:39,633 --> 00:14:44,300
while.

405
00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:44,933
In five minutes, the cops

406
00:14:44,933 --> 00:14:45,666
determine, the pedestrian is at

407
00:14:45,666 --> 00:14:51,166
fault.

408
00:14:51,166 --> 00:14:51,866
David: this face -- case feels

409
00:14:51,866 --> 00:14:53,633
like Bridgegate.

410
00:14:53,633 --> 00:14:54,233
Details are starting to drip

411
00:14:54,233 --> 00:14:56,333
out.

412
00:14:56,333 --> 00:14:58,000
Did you get a sense that there

413
00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,800
might be a strategy on Mrs.

414
00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,366
Menendez?

415
00:15:04,366 --> 00:15:05,100
>> someone suggested that to me

416
00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:07,500
early on.

417
00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:09,133
I have no knowledge and I

418
00:15:09,133 --> 00:15:09,866
haven't been reporting on that

419
00:15:09,866 --> 00:15:13,800
part of the story.

420
00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:17,700
I think that the traffic

421
00:15:17,700 --> 00:15:20,400
incident, the death, it's a

422
00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:21,933
fatal crash, really raises a lot

423
00:15:21,933 --> 00:15:25,900
of questions.

424
00:15:25,900 --> 00:15:26,566
Clearly misses Menendez was

425
00:15:26,566 --> 00:15:26,933
speeding.

426
00:15:26,933 --> 00:15:28,933
There was no doubt about that.

427
00:15:28,933 --> 00:15:31,200
My understanding from people who

428
00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:32,766
live there is that there's

429
00:15:32,766 --> 00:15:34,633
nowhere you can be going 40 or

430
00:15:34,633 --> 00:15:35,366
50 miles per hour like that and

431
00:15:35,366 --> 00:15:39,666
she was.

432
00:15:39,666 --> 00:15:40,400
Richard Koop, he is important to

433
00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,300
remember.

434
00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:44,000
He was getting out of a new

435
00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,133
brand going into his house.

436
00:15:47,133 --> 00:15:48,233
Maybe he was crossing the

437
00:15:48,233 --> 00:15:48,566
street.

438
00:15:48,566 --> 00:15:49,333
It wasn't like he was wandering

439
00:15:49,333 --> 00:15:51,933
around the street.

440
00:15:51,933 --> 00:15:52,600
There are a lot of questions

441
00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,333
about this.

442
00:15:55,333 --> 00:15:57,266
That's 100% right.

443
00:15:57,266 --> 00:15:59,433
Many things we need to know

444
00:15:59,433 --> 00:16:03,133
about that particular incident.

445
00:16:03,133 --> 00:16:05,400
David: Brent Menendez made some

446
00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:06,133
telling comments on Wednesday

447
00:16:06,133 --> 00:16:08,800
about how he would never

448
00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,600
jeopardize a New Jersey seat.

449
00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:13,200
Saying, when I make that

450
00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,300
decision about running a free

451
00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:17,000
election, I will announce it.

452
00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:17,800
He didn't say, I'm definitely

453
00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:19,233
running.

454
00:16:19,233 --> 00:16:19,900
Anything we should read into

455
00:16:19,900 --> 00:16:24,033
that?

456
00:16:24,033 --> 00:16:25,433
>> that's the big question.

457
00:16:25,433 --> 00:16:27,133
He has refused to resign.

458
00:16:27,133 --> 00:16:28,200
One thought is that he is biding

459
00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,033
his time in trying to continue

460
00:16:29,033 --> 00:16:31,200
to raise money for his legal

461
00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:32,233
defense fund while staying in

462
00:16:32,233 --> 00:16:35,300
office which is easier to do.

463
00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:37,633
Maybe we will get a decision

464
00:16:37,633 --> 00:16:38,600
from him in April or March as we

465
00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:39,333
get closer to the primary filing

466
00:16:39,333 --> 00:16:42,400
deadline.

467
00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:43,033
That's the big question

468
00:16:43,033 --> 00:16:45,666
politically.

469
00:16:45,666 --> 00:16:46,366
If he's going to leave, when

470
00:16:46,366 --> 00:16:48,300
he's going to leave.

471
00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:50,233
Those comments were little more

472
00:16:50,233 --> 00:16:51,000
measured than things he had said

473
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,800
in recent weeks.

474
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,066
I heard someone say recently

475
00:16:55,066 --> 00:16:57,733
that, what's different about

476
00:16:57,733 --> 00:16:59,966
this case is that when he was

477
00:16:59,966 --> 00:17:01,000
charged a few years ago it was a

478
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,966
bit more murky and difficult to

479
00:17:03,966 --> 00:17:04,666
understand, that the citizens

480
00:17:04,666 --> 00:17:05,333
may not fully grasp all the

481
00:17:05,333 --> 00:17:09,266
details.

482
00:17:09,266 --> 00:17:11,133
This seems a lot more obvious.

483
00:17:11,133 --> 00:17:11,766
The allegations seem a lot

484
00:17:11,766 --> 00:17:13,800
stronger.

485
00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:14,466
This feels like a different

486
00:17:14,466 --> 00:17:17,133
situation this time.

487
00:17:17,133 --> 00:17:17,666
>> Normal work of a

488
00:17:17,666 --> 00:17:19,833
congressional office.

489
00:17:19,833 --> 00:17:22,233
Meeting with prosecutors to try

490
00:17:22,233 --> 00:17:25,600
to get it developed.

491
00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:26,266
Sounds like normal work of a

492
00:17:26,266 --> 00:17:28,033
congressional office to me.

493
00:17:28,033 --> 00:17:30,400
I think everything is fine.

494
00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:31,133
David: it seems unlikely that he

495
00:17:31,133 --> 00:17:34,000
will resign.

496
00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:34,766
Not so certain that he won't run

497
00:17:34,766 --> 00:17:36,866
.

498
00:17:36,866 --> 00:17:39,600
In this case, is it Andy Kim's

499
00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,200
race to lose?

500
00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,433
>> we have to see what happens

501
00:17:44,433 --> 00:17:45,200
with Tammy Murphy.

502
00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:46,800
Certainly the early polling from

503
00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:48,666
groups that are sympathetic to

504
00:17:48,666 --> 00:17:49,366
Kim show him with a commanding

505
00:17:49,366 --> 00:17:52,366
lead.

506
00:17:52,366 --> 00:17:55,166
He stepped out.

507
00:17:55,166 --> 00:17:58,433
I think he knew where the bosses

508
00:17:58,433 --> 00:17:59,233
would try to go and figured,

509
00:17:59,233 --> 00:18:00,466
they will not go with me so it's

510
00:18:00,466 --> 00:18:01,133
time that I get out there a

511
00:18:01,133 --> 00:18:02,866
little bit.

512
00:18:02,866 --> 00:18:03,433
David: what about the

513
00:18:03,433 --> 00:18:06,466
Republicans?

514
00:18:06,466 --> 00:18:07,166
>> with Menendez not in the

515
00:18:07,166 --> 00:18:09,066
race, a chance of the

516
00:18:09,066 --> 00:18:09,800
Republicans winning this are so

517
00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:15,166
small.

518
00:18:15,166 --> 00:18:15,900
If Menendez is the nominee, then

519
00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:20,000
it's a competitive race.

520
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,700
Without him, it goes status quo.

521
00:18:22,700 --> 00:18:24,500
I don't think New Jersey voters

522
00:18:24,500 --> 00:18:27,866
will punish the entire party.

523
00:18:27,866 --> 00:18:28,766
When you consider that most of

524
00:18:28,766 --> 00:18:29,833
the people calling for Menendez

525
00:18:29,833 --> 00:18:33,600
to leave office are Democrats.

526
00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,900
I would like to point out, with

527
00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:37,533
the Attorney General stuff, I

528
00:18:37,533 --> 00:18:38,100
wish I could say that

529
00:18:38,100 --> 00:18:38,833
Republicans motivations here are

530
00:18:38,833 --> 00:18:41,366
clear.

531
00:18:41,366 --> 00:18:42,600
They are clearly -- I don't

532
00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:43,300
regret them it offered calling

533
00:18:43,300 --> 00:18:45,733
for this investigation.

534
00:18:45,733 --> 00:18:46,433
I think these are issues that

535
00:18:46,433 --> 00:18:49,433
need to be investigated.

536
00:18:49,433 --> 00:18:50,166
I don't want to be like, but

537
00:18:50,166 --> 00:18:52,600
Trump.

538
00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:58,233
We do have a Former President

539
00:18:58,233 --> 00:18:59,466
who called an election official

540
00:18:59,466 --> 00:19:00,266
in Georgia and tried to get him

541
00:19:00,266 --> 00:19:02,733
to overturn the election.

542
00:19:02,733 --> 00:19:03,500
I know that's directly impacting

543
00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:06,800
New Jersey.

544
00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:08,800
I haven't heard many Republicans

545
00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:09,366
say that that deserves

546
00:19:09,366 --> 00:19:13,000
prosecution.

547
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,933
A lot of the ones out there,

548
00:19:14,933 --> 00:19:16,066
they are joining the rest of the

549
00:19:16,066 --> 00:19:16,833
national party in implying that

550
00:19:16,833 --> 00:19:17,533
the presidents prosecution is

551
00:19:17,533 --> 00:19:21,400
political.

552
00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:22,100
Why is this a legitimate means

553
00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:24,800
of inquiry?

554
00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:25,366
think about the Former

555
00:19:25,366 --> 00:19:28,000
President.

556
00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,633
I'm a reporter.

557
00:19:29,633 --> 00:19:30,733
I can stand from the outside.

558
00:19:30,733 --> 00:19:33,200
That's my job.

559
00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:34,166
I know politics is complicated.

560
00:19:34,166 --> 00:19:37,466
Motives aren't always peer.

561
00:19:37,466 --> 00:19:38,933
I would certainly like to see a

562
00:19:38,933 --> 00:19:41,466
equal application of the law.

563
00:19:41,466 --> 00:19:44,900
David: I have to get in some

564
00:19:44,900 --> 00:19:48,866
conversation about the bad news

565
00:19:48,866 --> 00:19:52,933
that's coming to local press.

566
00:19:52,933 --> 00:19:54,466
We saw layoffs at news 12 New

567
00:19:54,466 --> 00:19:56,900
Jersey this week.

568
00:19:56,900 --> 00:19:58,433
Also at WNYC.

569
00:19:58,433 --> 00:19:59,400
That's coming on the heels of

570
00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:04,033
layoffs at entry.com.

571
00:20:04,033 --> 00:20:07,666
What is your sense of what's

572
00:20:07,666 --> 00:20:12,000
next for local news?

573
00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,733
>> yeah.

574
00:20:14,733 --> 00:20:18,133
I think it was Matt who said in

575
00:20:18,133 --> 00:20:19,766
his newsletter that, when they

576
00:20:19,766 --> 00:20:21,733
say we are corporate

577
00:20:21,733 --> 00:20:22,466
restructuring, rethinking this,

578
00:20:22,466 --> 00:20:24,500
and then you are taking away

579
00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:25,466
reporters, the math doesn't

580
00:20:25,466 --> 00:20:28,266
work.

581
00:20:28,266 --> 00:20:31,600
There's no way taking away

582
00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,766
people leads to better coverage.

583
00:20:35,766 --> 00:20:39,800
You know, it's really troubling.

584
00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,500
Alex at news 12 was one of those

585
00:20:42,500 --> 00:20:43,600
people who really went after the

586
00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,366
administration during COVID.

587
00:20:46,366 --> 00:20:47,066
Sometimes it was wearisome for

588
00:20:47,066 --> 00:20:51,833
other reporters.

589
00:20:51,833 --> 00:20:52,600
We weren't in the same frame of

590
00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:53,833
mind.

591
00:20:53,833 --> 00:20:56,200
To be honest --

592
00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:56,900
David: we weren't all in the

593
00:20:56,900 --> 00:20:59,400
same headspace.

594
00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,066
>> right.

595
00:21:01,066 --> 00:21:01,733
To be honest, that's what

596
00:21:01,733 --> 00:21:04,000
reporters are here to do.

597
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:05,900
We are there to ask questions

598
00:21:05,900 --> 00:21:08,000
that are being raised by people

599
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:08,666
in the community come in the

600
00:21:08,666 --> 00:21:10,533
world.

601
00:21:10,533 --> 00:21:11,266
The people that these officials

602
00:21:11,266 --> 00:21:12,733
represent.

603
00:21:12,733 --> 00:21:13,400
We are supposed to be their

604
00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,800
voice.

605
00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:16,500
The fewer of us there are, the

606
00:21:16,500 --> 00:21:19,233
harder that becomes.

607
00:21:19,233 --> 00:21:21,633
We have some young reporters

608
00:21:21,633 --> 00:21:23,200
coming up through report for

609
00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:23,900
America on the spotlight team.

610
00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:27,033
It's great.

611
00:21:27,033 --> 00:21:28,266
But we need legions of them.

612
00:21:28,266 --> 00:21:33,566
We need everybody.

613
00:21:33,566 --> 00:21:34,100
We need more bodies.

614
00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:36,466
That's all.

615
00:21:36,466 --> 00:21:37,033
David: especially with

616
00:21:37,033 --> 00:21:44,366
elections.

617
00:21:44,366 --> 00:21:45,033
Good for the corrupt and the

618
00:21:45,033 --> 00:21:45,733
scoundrels come about for the

619
00:21:45,733 --> 00:21:48,233
public, right?

620
00:21:48,233 --> 00:21:48,933
>> especially troubling at the

621
00:21:48,933 --> 00:21:51,700
local level.

622
00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:52,400
You don't have reporters at

623
00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,666
County commission meetings most

624
00:21:54,666 --> 00:21:55,333
of the time unless they know

625
00:21:55,333 --> 00:21:56,066
there's a big issue that will

626
00:21:56,066 --> 00:21:57,900
come.

627
00:21:57,900 --> 00:21:58,666
You don't have the regular beat

628
00:21:58,666 --> 00:22:01,333
reporter who is going to the

629
00:22:01,333 --> 00:22:01,900
meeting, not expecting

630
00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:02,500
everything, just paying

631
00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:04,100
attention.

632
00:22:04,100 --> 00:22:06,900
We are OK on the state level.

633
00:22:06,900 --> 00:22:07,900
We are better than a lot of

634
00:22:07,900 --> 00:22:10,833
states in terms of the number of

635
00:22:10,833 --> 00:22:11,566
reporters we have, dwindling as

636
00:22:11,566 --> 00:22:12,233
it is.

637
00:22:12,233 --> 00:22:14,866
I think we have more than enough

638
00:22:14,866 --> 00:22:15,566
reporters in Congress and the

639
00:22:15,566 --> 00:22:17,833
White House.

640
00:22:17,833 --> 00:22:19,933
What really matters most to

641
00:22:19,933 --> 00:22:21,266
people, the things that directly

642
00:22:21,266 --> 00:22:22,000
affect their lives the most are

643
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:22,700
what happens on the most local

644
00:22:22,700 --> 00:22:27,700
level.

645
00:22:27,700 --> 00:22:28,400
David: small commissions of --

646
00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:28,800
commissions.

647
00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:34,766
All of that stuff.

648
00:22:34,766 --> 00:22:35,633
>> some lamb belongs to our

649
00:22:35,633 --> 00:22:36,600
civic culture.

650
00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:37,333
Not just the media companies and

651
00:22:37,333 --> 00:22:40,266
not just greed.

652
00:22:40,266 --> 00:22:42,000
But if people were interested in

653
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:43,933
their local government, which

654
00:22:43,933 --> 00:22:45,866
they should be, than there would

655
00:22:45,866 --> 00:22:46,600
be more demand for coverage and

656
00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,533
more money there.

657
00:22:50,533 --> 00:22:51,266
Some of it, we have ourselves to

658
00:22:51,266 --> 00:22:52,166
blame unfortunately.

659
00:22:52,166 --> 00:22:54,000
It's complicated.

660
00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:58,200
David: go ahead.

661
00:22:58,200 --> 00:22:58,933
>> I was going to say, I see the

662
00:22:58,933 --> 00:23:00,700
same thing.

663
00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:01,933
I think people want to know,

664
00:23:01,933 --> 00:23:02,666
where did that come from and why

665
00:23:02,666 --> 00:23:04,733
is it on the corner?

666
00:23:04,733 --> 00:23:05,400
what a stupid place to put a

667
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,833
drugstore.

668
00:23:07,833 --> 00:23:10,533
Had you gone to the planning

669
00:23:10,533 --> 00:23:11,700
board, you know.

670
00:23:11,700 --> 00:23:12,466
People don't have time for that.

671
00:23:12,466 --> 00:23:16,433
It's complicated.

672
00:23:16,433 --> 00:23:17,300
David: it's time for our only in

673
00:23:17,300 --> 00:23:18,100
Jersey segment.

674
00:23:18,100 --> 00:23:19,700
Headlines and notes that are

675
00:23:19,700 --> 00:23:20,300
quintessentially Jersey.

676
00:23:20,300 --> 00:23:24,266
You have one?

677
00:23:24,266 --> 00:23:27,766
>> give it to David Weinstein at

678
00:23:27,766 --> 00:23:30,633
New Jersey globe for the story

679
00:23:30,633 --> 00:23:31,400
of a guy named Joe Viso who was

680
00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,100
running for assembly in the 36th

681
00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:35,866
district, the outlier of a huge

682
00:23:35,866 --> 00:23:40,500
Republican wave district.

683
00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:41,233
This guy has a pretty extensive

684
00:23:41,233 --> 00:23:43,933
criminal record.

685
00:23:43,933 --> 00:23:44,800
The thing he unearthed is that

686
00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:46,700
in some dispute with a

687
00:23:46,700 --> 00:23:49,233
neighboring daycare center, he

688
00:23:49,233 --> 00:23:54,166
smeared feces on the door.

689
00:23:54,166 --> 00:23:55,033
He said he was very upset at the

690
00:23:55,033 --> 00:23:56,700
time.

691
00:23:56,700 --> 00:23:57,566
He doesn't excuse what he did

692
00:23:57,566 --> 00:24:00,833
but Obama had just been elected.

693
00:24:00,833 --> 00:24:04,466
Thanks Obama.

694
00:24:04,466 --> 00:24:06,033
Christiane: you have -- David:

695
00:24:06,033 --> 00:24:07,600
you have one?

696
00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,133
>> yes.

697
00:24:10,133 --> 00:24:10,833
When Taylor Swift came to New

698
00:24:10,833 --> 00:24:13,866
Jersey the other day.

699
00:24:13,866 --> 00:24:14,733
A lot of people were referencing

700
00:24:14,733 --> 00:24:19,166
that she was coming to New York.

701
00:24:19,166 --> 00:24:19,966
I'm to be said, that's actually

702
00:24:19,966 --> 00:24:25,366
in New Jersey.

703
00:24:25,366 --> 00:24:29,633
Thank you MTV.

704
00:24:29,633 --> 00:24:30,300
I would like to ask them to

705
00:24:30,300 --> 00:24:31,000
bring back music videos for an

706
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,133
hour each day.

707
00:24:34,133 --> 00:24:34,866
David: good luck with that one.

708
00:24:34,866 --> 00:24:37,933
>> Never going to happen.

709
00:24:37,933 --> 00:24:38,566
David: mine comes from the

710
00:24:38,566 --> 00:24:39,200
precarious world of local

711
00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,933
journalism.

712
00:24:43,933 --> 00:24:46,733
Local journalism is under attack

713
00:24:46,733 --> 00:24:47,833
by economic forces for sure.

714
00:24:47,833 --> 00:24:50,166
But it's also being pushed to

715
00:24:50,166 --> 00:24:52,433
the sidelines by elected

716
00:24:52,433 --> 00:24:54,966
officials who ignore, avoid, and

717
00:24:54,966 --> 00:24:57,633
otherwise circumvent the

718
00:24:57,633 --> 00:24:58,300
critical gaze of journalists

719
00:24:58,300 --> 00:25:00,733
doing their jobs.

720
00:25:00,733 --> 00:25:01,433
I'm looking at you, Tom Kim

721
00:25:01,433 --> 00:25:03,800
Junior.

722
00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,666
I don't blame them.

723
00:25:05,666 --> 00:25:07,300
The fact is that you watching us

724
00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:09,333
right now have the

725
00:25:09,333 --> 00:25:11,033
responsibility to demand

726
00:25:11,033 --> 00:25:11,633
accountability from all

727
00:25:11,633 --> 00:25:13,700
politicians.

728
00:25:13,700 --> 00:25:16,433
When what you know about your

729
00:25:16,433 --> 00:25:19,100
Congressman comes from that

730
00:25:19,100 --> 00:25:19,733
Congressman's PR people,

731
00:25:19,733 --> 00:25:21,300
whatever party, you are not

732
00:25:21,300 --> 00:25:24,333
getting news, you are getting

733
00:25:24,333 --> 00:25:24,766
propaganda.

734
00:25:24,766 --> 00:25:28,533
Nowadays especially, it's up to

735
00:25:28,533 --> 00:25:29,233
you to know the difference and

736
00:25:29,233 --> 00:25:31,400
act accordingly.

737
00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,866
That's roundtable for this week.

738
00:25:34,866 --> 00:25:35,866
Good to see you all.

739
00:25:35,866 --> 00:25:36,600
Thanks also to Senator Bucha for

740
00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:40,700
joining us.

741
00:25:40,700 --> 00:25:42,733
You can follow the show on X and

742
00:25:42,733 --> 00:25:44,266
get more exclusive content

743
00:25:44,266 --> 00:25:46,000
including full episodes when you

744
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:51,733
scan the QR code on your screen.

745
00:25:51,733 --> 00:25:52,266
Thanks for watching.

746
00:25:52,266 --> 00:25:54,666
We will see you next week.

747
00:25:54,666 --> 00:25:56,600
>> Major funding for Reporters

748
00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:00,400
Roundtable is provided by --

749
00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:01,266
RWJ Barnabas health, let's be

750
00:26:01,266 --> 00:26:04,500
healthy together.

751
00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:07,433
Promotional support provided by

752
00:26:07,433 --> 00:26:08,666
New Jersey business magazine, a

753
00:26:08,666 --> 00:26:09,300
magazine of the New Jersey

754
00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:11,933
business and industry

755
00:26:11,933 --> 00:26:12,533
Association reporting to

756
00:26:12,533 --> 00:26:16,066
executive and legislative

757
00:26:16,066 --> 00:26:17,500
leaders in all 21 counties of

758
00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:19,466
the Garden State since 1954.

759
00:26:19,466 --> 00:26:22,200
And by Politico New Jersey

760
00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,266
playbook, a newsletter on

761
00:26:24,266 --> 00:26:25,300
politics, online at

762
00:26:25,300 --> 00:26:26,500
Politico.com.

763
00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:27,266
♪