Polistina Challenges Mazzeo “Act On Hicks Impeachment Articles”

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a press release from Vince Polistina, published in its entirety.

Submitted by Vince Polistina, Republican Challenger for The New Jersey Senate in District 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Polistina Presses Mazzeo to Hold a Public Hearing on DOC Commissioner Marcus Hicks Impeachment

GOP challenger says the incumbent has sat on impeachment resolution for over a month, while innocent women are assaulted at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility 

March 29, 2021 – Former Assemblyman and successful small business owner Vince Polistina today pressed Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, in his role as Chairman of the Assembly State and Local Government Committee, to begin public hearings on AR-220, the bipartisan Assembly Resolution calling for articles of impeachment to be adopted against Department of Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks.

Despite significant lip service, Governor Murphy and Democratic legislative leaders have refused to hold Hicks accountable for the rampant abuse and violent assaults endured by women at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility. Polistina said Mazzeo is doing the bidding of party bosses determined to protect Democrat Senator Dawn Addiego, whose opponent, Republican Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield is spearheading calls for impeachment.

“It will be five weeks tomorrow since this bipartisan impeachment resolution was sent to the Assembly committee where Vince Mazzeo is the Chairman.  In those five weeks, Mazzeo has done nothing,” said Polistina.  “Despite his rhetoric about protecting women, Vince Mazzeo is about doing the bidding of party bosses whose priority is protecting a vulnerable Democratic Senator whose Republican opponent has been pushing the impeachment.” 

Polistina called on Mazzeo to defy the party bosses and do the right thing by these women. 

“It’s time for Assemblyman Mazzeo to show some courage and take a stand on behalf of women at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility who have been subjected to physical abuse and sexual assault at the hands of guards,” said Polistina.  “Assemblyman Mazzeo should use his power to call a public hearing immediately and move these impeachment articles against Commissioner Hicks forward.  If Mazzeo refuses, he owes these women and everyone else an explanation.”

Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield echoed Polistina’s call.

“Governor Murphy and Democratic legislative leaders in Trenton have shown their true colors on this issue,” said Stanfield.  “They like to talk about protecting women, but they are far more concerned about protecting each other while innocent women are brutalized with no accountability by anyone.  Vince Polistina is 100% right about this, and I applaud him putting pressure on Assemblyman Mazzeo to act.”

SOURCE: Vince Polistina Press Release