A Democratic senator in New Jersey was arrested after police found she violated the state’s driving while intoxicated, law enforcement documents revealed on Friday.
According to Real Garden State, Cunningham’s well-connected friends in Jersey City allegedly tried to get her out of trouble.
Democratic state Sen. Sandra Cunningham was driving in Jersey City Thursday morning when she struck two legally parked vehicles from the side, according to a police incident report.
Cunningham told police she was about to make a turn but hit a snowbank, according to the report. She was unaware she’d struck two cars.
The document says she was found to be in violation of the state’s DWI law and arrested.
It was reported that it was former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, D-N.J., who picked Cunningham up from the scene.
McGreevey said he believed Cunningham had a bad reaction to medication and was not drunk. McGreevey said he’d witnessed the senator react poorly to her medication in the past.
But insiders reportedly told Real Garden State that “cops that initially responded to the scene requested a supervisor and DWI operator. Footage of Cunningham during the initial aftermath was recorded on police bodycam.”
The body camera video allegedly shows Cunningham denying being under the influence and “claim the incident was not a big deal.” She later reportedly requested that responding police officers contact Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea directly.
“Additionally, sources say JCPD Capt. Joseph Olszewski, a political ally of Cunningham, responded to the incident in an off-duty capacity. Olszewski supposedly attempted to persuade Sgt. Maria Cortes, the supervisor on scene, to drop the investigation,” Real Garden State reported.
Cortes refused to drop the incident, the sources reportedly said, and a judge later signed a warrant to test Cunningham’s blood for intoxicants.
Cunningham’s spokesperson declined to comment.
A message seeking more information was left with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s office.
Cunningham has represented the 31st Legislative District, which includes Bayonne and Jersey City, since 2007.
Here's the arrest report for state Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson). It says nothing. pic.twitter.com/7BCR6RJ1Qi
— Matt Friedman (@MattFriedmanNJ) March 6, 2021
The Associated Press contributed to this article