NJDSC Chair Jones, Jr. Calls on Joe Hathaway to Explain Photo with January 6th Insurrectionist
Essex, NJ — The New Jersey Democratic State Committee is calling on Republican congressional nominee for NJ-11, Joe Hathaway, to explain newly surfaced photos showing him posing with January 6th insurrectionist Joseph Belnome.
The individual in the photo with Joe Hathaway has been identified as Joseph Belnome, a former NJ-11 congressional candidate who was part of the insurrectionist group in Washington, D.C. on January 6th. Belnome was at the January 6th insurrection alongside Dion Cini, who has publicly identified himself as a member of the Proud Boys and worked on Belnome’s campaign.
In response, LeRoy J. Jones, Jr, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, released the following statement:
“January 6 was a violent and disgraceful attack on our democracy. Extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol, assaulted police officers, and attempted to overturn a free and fair election.
“Seeing Joe Hathaway smiling in photos with Joseph Belnome — a January 6th insurrectionist who was at the Capitol alongside Proud Boy members — should alarm every voter in New Jersey.
“Joe Hathaway owes the people of New Jersey an explanation. Does he condemn the insurrection and the extremists who carried it out? Has he disavowed the individuals involved in that attack, or is he comfortable associating with the same crowd that tried to overturn our democracy?
“Rejecting political violence and the extremists behind it should be the bare minimum for anyone seeking public office. If Joe Hathaway wants to represent New Jersey in Congress, he must explain why he is posing with people tied to one of the darkest days in modern American history.”