FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2024

As the 2022 Democratic nominee for Congress in New Jersey’s Second District, I am compelled to address the deeply troubling revelations regarding Congressman Jeff Van Drew’s engagement with convicted felon Craig Callaway in the 2022 election cycle. The recent arrest of Mr. Callaway for his role in orchestrating a fraudulent vote-harvesting operation in Atlantic County under the employment of Congressman Van Drew is a direct assault on the integrity of our democratic process.

It has come to light that Congressman Van Drew admitted to paying Mr. Callaway over $50,000 to influence the election in his favor. Van Drew’s FEC filings revealed $65,000 paid to Calloway. This disturbing alliance resulted in the procurement, casting, and tabulation of fraudulent mail-in ballots, undermining the voice of the voters in the Second District. The allegations that Mr. Callaway and his associates offered financial incentives to individuals to act as messengers for vote-by-mail voters, leading to ballots cast in the names of unsuspecting citizens, is an egregious violation of trust and legality.
This is not merely a case of poor judgment by Congressman Van Drew but a calculated decision to engage with an individual known for previous convictions of bribery and blackmail. Congressman Van Drew’s willingness to collaborate with Mr. Callaway, fully aware of his criminal history and propensity for fraudulent activities, is unconscionable and disqualifying.

The fundamental principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability in our elections are what sustain our democracy. The actions of Congressman Van Drew and Craig Callaway have not only tarnished the electoral process but have also betrayed the trust of the citizens of the Second District. It is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our electoral system and the lengths some will go to subvert the will of the people for personal gain.

As we move forward, we must address these vulnerabilities through a comprehensive electoral review. We must ensure that our elections are free, fair, and fully accessible to all eligible voters. This includes strengthening the safeguards against vote harvesting, enhancing the security of mail-in voting, and ensuring that those who seek to undermine our democracy are held accountable.
The citizens of New Jersey’s Second District deserve a representative who respects the sanctity of the electoral process and who is committed to upholding the principles of democracy.

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Tim Alexander, 2024 Democratic Candidate for Congress New Jersey’s Second District