New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is seriously considering appointing his former chief of staff to replace convicted Sen. Bob Menendez, The Washington Post has learned.
Former Chief of Staff George Helmy, a close aide to Murphy who sources say implemented the governor’s hardline policies behind the scenes, may be heading to Washington when Menendez resigns on Aug. 20.
Murphy has informed some Democratic leaders in the Garden State that he intends to nominate Helmy, currently executive vice president and director of external relations and policy at RWJBarnabas Health, to finish out Menendez’s term, which expires at the end of the year.
Spokespeople for Gov. Helmy and Gov. Murphy declined to comment, but the governor spoke highly of Murphy last September when he announced he was leaving the administration.
“I don’t know what we would have done without George.” Murphy says at that time.
“No chapter in the history of my administration would be complete without acknowledging George’s unique role in leading my team for more than four and a half years,” he continued. “His unique combination of public and private sector experience, excellent management skills and deep relationships across the political spectrum have enabled him to excel in this role.”
Murphy praised Helmy for leading the state’s COVID-19 response and said he oversees policy and the legislative agenda at the Statehouse.
“George has given his all to serving the people of New Jersey,” Murphy said.
The governor has the option to fill the congressional seat after Menendez, a Democrat, was convicted last month of misusing his office to accept millions of dollars in bribes.
A federal jury convicted him on 16 counts of using his political position to benefit Egypt, Qatar and three wealthy friends in exchange for large amounts of cash, gold bars and other gifts.
Despite his widespread respect, Helmy is not without controversy.
Former Garden State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal testified at Menendez’s corruption trial in June that he was subjected to multiple improper interrogations in ongoing criminal cases. One from Helmy.
Helmy called Grewal in 2020 to ask about the prosecution of Hudson County employee Walter Somic, who was accused of falsifying work records for unauthorized absences, Grewal said.
According to the Star-Ledger, a Murphy administration source claimed Governor Helmy made the call because Somic was a friend of State Sen. Nick Sacco (D-Hudson), who was blocking a bill supported by the governor that would have eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenders.
“It is unclear what Mr. Helmy wanted from Mr. Grewal, but given the transactional nature of New Jersey politics, it is no longer prudent to give the Murphy administration the benefit of the doubt. It would have been easy to ask Mr. Grewal to reconsider prosecuting Mr. Somic in order to get Mr. Sacco to support the bill,” the Star-Ledger editorial said.
Sacco had reportedly demanded that public servants like Somic be included among the criminals who should be spared prison time.
“Is that Too Jersey? There is no such thing as Too Jersey,” the editorial said.
Judge Murphy ultimately rejected the bill, including Judge Sacco’s amendments, and Judge Somic pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence.
What we know about the Bob Menendez case
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey was convicted on federal corruption charges related to an alleged years-long scheme.
A federal jury found that Menendez accepted bribes, including gold bars, in exchange for supporting three businessmen — Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Dibes — as well as Egypt and Qatar.
According to an indictment filed in Manhattan federal court, Menendez and his wife, Nadine, are accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. Their cases are being tried separately, with Menendez’s case being postponed indefinitely while she undergoes treatment for breast cancer.
When federal agents searched the Menendezes’ Englewood Cliffs home in June 2022, they found a 2019 Mercedes C-Class, at least 13 gold bars and $566,000 in cash “stuffed in envelopes.” An additional $70,000 in cash was found in Nadine’s safe deposit box.
Federal agents say Menendez also received mortgage payments, as well as payments for jobs that involved little or no attendance and furniture.
This is not the first time the Democrat has been indicted on federal corruption charges: In 2015, Menendez was accused of accepting gifts from Florida eye surgeon Salomon Melgen.
The “gifts” included holidays in Paris, flights on private jets and vacations at Mergen’s villa in the Dominican Republic.
The case ended in a nullity judgment.
Meanwhile, former state Deputy Health Commissioner Chris Neuwirth claims he was fired for raising ethical concerns when asked to administer COVID-19 tests. To relatives Helmy in 2020.
He filed a defamation lawsuit alleging that Murphy made false statements about the reasons for his dismissal.
Last year, the state appeals court threw out Defamation charges.
If elected, Helmy would likely replace Menendez for a short term.
Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in November, facing off against Republican challenger Curtis Bashaw, a real estate developer.
