UNCOVERED MEMO EXONERATES SENATOR NICK SCUTARI; PUTS DEREK ARMSTEAD IN HOT SEAT

Sen. Scutari calls on Derek Armstead to resign after document shows Linden Mayor obstructed investigation and lied to public

(LINDEN)

Today, Senator Nick Scutari (D-22) released the following statement:

In November of 2005, the Linden City Council (which Derek Armstead was a member of) passed a policy (Attached) that stated the Linden Municipal Prosecutor must pay for his/her own substitute at the Prosecutor’s own expense. This was the policy that covered my tenure as Municipal Prosecutor. And this policy remains in effect today.

Mayor Armstead was on Council when this policy was passed, he was well aware it existed.

During his time as Mayor, he continued this policy. Yet, he called on authorities to investigate me, falsely claiming I did something wrong.

Mayor Armstead failed to turn over this document to the office of the Attorney General, and also failed to include it in various OPRA requests. Mayor Armstead and the Linden Council should be charged with filing a false report and should be forced to reimburse the taxpayers of Linden and the state of New Jersey for the money wasted on this political hit job. It is bad enough Derek showed no regard for people’s safety and went campaigning during the height of the pandemic.

But to knowingly and willfully submit misleading information to the Attorney General in the hopes of creating a false investigation for political purposes is unconscionable.

Derek Armstead’s attack on my name and reputation will not go unchallenged. In October, I filed notice that I would be suing Derek Armstead, the members of Council, and everyone who was part of this hit job for defamation of character. The policy that Derek approved as a Councilman and kept in place as Mayor will be Exhibit 1.

In light of Derek’s reckless action, he should give serious consideration to resigning as Linden Mayor and as Linden Democratic Chairman.