Mendez Fraud Case Dismissed
A judge today dismissed the fraud case - all charges - against Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez.
"Today was one of the most important days in our lives," said Mendez in a Facebook Live post outside the courthouse.
In an emotional InsiderNJ phone interview, the councilman elaborated:
"Im very excited. I want to thank God, my lawyer, and my team. From 2020 when they accused me I knew I was innocent. They did this to hurt me because I've been a threat for many years.
"We've been suffering for six years. I want to thank my daughter. She asked me, 'Is that true, what they said about you.' I said, 'no.' And she told me, 'Don't give up.' She was a teenager when she told me that, and now she's going to graduate from Howard University. They've been suffering with me. My whole family has seen my pain. My supporters have been behind me every step of the way. They reelected me in 2024.
"And May 12th, were going to be mayor to bring hope and safety to the City of Paterson."
Mendez is a candidate for mayor in Paterson and just kicked off his citywide campaign on Saturday.
For more on that, please go HERE.
He faces two-term incumbent Mayor Andre Sayegh, Ward One Councilman Mike Jackson, and former Councilman Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman in the mayor's race.
The ballot fraud case against Mendez has dogged him for years.
More criminal charges have been filed against Paterson City Council President Alex Mendez in connection with an alleged voter fraud scheme dating the May 2020 election.
Mendez and his wife face new charges in the 20-count superseding indictment including attempts to tamper with a witness to the alleged ballot stuffing scheme.
Mendez has served on the council for nearly five years – including being re-elected in 2024 – since he was accused of stealing mail-in ballots with numerous co-conspirators in the run-up to the 2020 election. The New Jersey State Attorney General’s office alleged Mendez and several co-conspirators stole mail-in ballots, falsified them, and then stuffed hundreds of them in a mailbox in Haledon to try to win the election.
