Gottheimer: Is it okay to call the Editor of NJ Globe a “terrorist”?

By Rubashov

Let’s remember that terrorism is a crime. As Congressman Josh Gottheimer well knows, Section 802 of the USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. L. No. 107-52) expanded the definition of terrorism to cover domestic, as opposed to international, terrorism. A person engages in domestic terrorism if they do an act “dangerous to human life that is a violation of the criminal laws of a state or the United States, if the act appears to be intended to: (i) intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping.”

Now, let’s recall what Bridgegate was all about. Wikipedia explains: “The Fort Lee lane closure scandal, also known as the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal or Bridgegate, was a political scandal involving a staff member and political appointees of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie colluding to create traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey, by closing lanes at the main toll plaza for the upper level of the George Washington Bridge… It was later suggested that the lanes had been closed intentionally to cause the massive traffic problem for political reasons, and especially theorized that they were a retributive attack against Fort Lee's Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who had not supported Christie as a candidate in the 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election. The ensuing investigations centered on several of Christie's appointees and staff, including David Wildstein, who ordered the lanes closed…”

According to the New York Times (May 1, 2015), the School Superintendent of Fort Lee thought Bridgegate was an act of terrorism. Here’s how the New York Times covered it:

Fort Lee School Head Calls Lane Closings an ‘Act of Terrorism’
FORT LEE, N.J. — Hearing that the bridge lane closings were intentionally scheduled for the first day of school made Dr. Paul Saxton, the interim superintendent of the town’s schools, angry all over again on Friday.

Dr. Saxton called the plot “an act of terrorism.” To carry out a “premeditated action designed and targeted toward the kids, what did they expect?” he said in a phone interview after a former Port Authority official pleaded guilty in the scheme.

The official, David Wildstein, told a judge that the lane closings were timed to the first day of school in 2013 to maximize punishment to Fort Lee’s mayor, Mark Sokolich.

The gridlock, which lasted for days, created all sorts of headaches for the school district and for Dr. Saxton, who was starting out as the interim superintendent.

School buses were stuck in traffic, teachers could not get to work, crossing guards failed to make it to their posts. Worst of all, Dr. Saxton said, were the hazards all the distorted traffic posed for the majority of the town’s schoolchildren who walk to school.

“It was a thoughtless, mindless action,” he said. “It’s really disturbing to think that the kids were targeted.”

Now, let’s be clear about something. David Wildstein, the Editor of NJ Globe, is not a terrorist. Why? Because he was never charged and convicted of the crime of terrorism. In America, for the moment anyway, everyone of us is protected by the phrase, “Innocent until proven guilty” by due process, in a court of law.

Apparently, Democrats don’t believe this anymore. At least not the Democrats in Sussex County and, along with them, Democrat Congressman Josh Gottheimer.

The Sussex County Democrats believe they can state, as fact, that someone committed the high crime of terrorism. The Democrats believe that to object to accusing someone of having committed a crime when no conviction has been rendered or even charges filed, and allow us to quote their lawyer directly here, “…is blatantly attempting to stifle open discussion about matters of public importance: the conduct, platforms, and beliefs of those who represent the citizens of our state in election related matters.”

Got it. So, when Josh Gottheimer was accused of sexually molesting a staff member and fooling around on his wife… that would be okay to put in direct mail? At the time, we defended Congressman Gottheimer, not knowing that we were in the wrong for doing so. We had no idea that we were “attempting to stifle open discussion about matters of public importance: the conduct, platforms, and beliefs of those who represent the citizens of our state in election related matters.”

If Bridgegate could reasonably be described as “terrorism” (read the law) and some people (people like the former head of the school district in Fort Lee) have made the accusation that it was terrorism, then is appearing on NJ Globe the same as appearing on a “terrorist” website? Would it be okay to make the accusation that any political figure who ever appeared on NJ Globe is “linked” to a “terrorist” website? Heck, just writing “linked to Bridgegate” would probably be enough. Could you put that in a direct mail piece and feel good about?

Apparently, the Sussex County Democrats, their Chairman Dawne Rowe, and Josh Gottheimer all believe you could. The Editor of the NJ Globe himself appears to believe it would be acceptable. What’s with these people? Could it be the end of “innocent until proven guilty”? It’s a brave new world we’re heading into.

The hypocrisy of the establishment.