Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Connie Wagner today joined with 52 other members of the Legislature in formally calling on the Governor to make an immediate public apology and retraction to the threatening comments he made last against Senator Loretta Weinberg during an April 13 press availability.
After the incident, Vainieri Huttle and Wagner sent letters to every New Jersey legislator asking them to publicly denounce Gov. Chris Christie’s comments urging reporters to “take the bat out” against Weinberg, a 76-year-old Democratic senator from Bergen County.
“This overwhelming show of support from our colleagues in the Legislature demonstrates that the governor’s comments are unacceptable, not only toward women but to every New Jerseyan of good will who understands threatening language is wrong,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “The governor’s offensive and disturbing language has no place in decent society and we are asking him to recognize that and elevate the political tone in our state.”
“The governor’s disturbing comment sets the worst example for everyone, particularly when it comes to respect toward women. Clearly a great deal of our colleagues feel the same way,” said Wagner (D-Bergen). “Together we are asking the Governor to set an example and change the discourse in our state. No one, no matter their role, should be advocating violence against a 76-year-old woman, or anyone for that matter.”
The lawmakers sent a letter to Governor Christie today formally asking him to apologize to Senator Weinberg and retract his comments.