[May 13, 2020 – Longport, New Jersey] After months of dodging questions regarding her ties to convicted criminal, Atlantic City Political Machine Boss Craig Callaway, Amy Kennedy continued to “demur” this morning when asked by Politico to classify her campaign’s relationship with Callaway.  In the article, Kennedy ducked and sidestepped the question, stating, “I’m not going to talk about any specific aspects of our campaign strategy, but it’s going to be important that we increase all political participation and that all the voices in this district are heard.”

Last April, Callaway endorsed Amy Kennedy amid speculation that he had been paid by the Kennedy campaign as an “advisor.” Callaway, whose endorsement was largely credited for Kennedy’s Atlantic County support, has been convicted of bribery and served 34 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to taking $10,000 in cash bribes from an undercover FBI agent posing as a Wall Street financier and investor to support an Atlantic City development project.  Callaway also has served for overseeing a blackmail plot to force the resignation of a political rival from the Atlantic City Council and comes with a long history of using fear, threats, and intimidation to commit voter fraud.  He is currently under investigation for a broad vote-by-mail scheme to influence various Atlantic County elections and he and his family have been brought up on at least 29 criminal charges:

The following is a statement by Paul Weborg, Campaign Manager, Brigid for South Jersey:

“Enough is enough. The voters of South Jersey are sick of lying, dishonest politicians. Amy Kennedy received Craig Callaway’s endorsement. Callaway and his operatives repeatedly bragged that Kennedy was giving them “a big payday” for his corrupt services. Today, Amy again dodged the question, or as Politico opined today, “demurred,” but what all of South Jersey wants to know is: How much did Amy Kennedy pay Craig Callaway for his endorsement?”

“The absurdity of this is that the day after receiving End Citizens United’s endorsement – engineered by a former Kennedy staffer – Amy is refusing to comply with federal election law requiring candidates to disclose expenditures.

“Through FEC records, we know huge amounts of money — $67,000 wired in just one day — were provided to a consulting firm called “RSH Campaign, LLC, with no real description of services provided. Considering the relationship and history, it’s fair to ask the question, was this used as a pass through for Callaway?

“Craig Callaway is the pure definition of New Jersey political corruption and Amy’s unwillingness to explain her relationship with Craig Callaway is the smoking gun.

“Callaway was convicted and been sent to jail for bribery.  He is a bully.  He is feared. And he has a long history of leading voter suppression campaigns throughout our community.  He represents everything that is wrong with our politics.

“Amy’s choice to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge again, once again shows us all that her actions as a candidate do not match her words.  Associating herself with Callaway proves that her “plan to fight political corruption” is a complete joke.   As a candidate, Amy “promised” not to “work for political machines,” that is obviously not the case, and now we need to know if the political machines are being paid to work for her.  It time for Amy to come clean, and answer these questions once and for all.”