Assemblywoman Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, a Republican lawmaker from New Jersey of Hispanic descent, was arrested for a DWI following a car accident back in April. The video has been released, and it shows her launching into profane trades denying that she had done anything wrong.
“I have done nothing but support the police,” the assemblywoman said to the officers in the video. “I am even one of your No. 1 supporters politically. Fking aholes.” She was accused by law enforcement of smoking marijuana in addition to her alleged drinking, a charge which she vehemently denied.
Rodriguez-Gregg was originally elected back in 2013 to represent portions of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties. She was the first Hispanic Republican woman ever elected to the New Jersey Legislature, but her career will ultimately be cut short due to her extracurricular activities. Because of this incident and other unnamed personal problems, Rodriguez-Gregg will not be seeking reelection next year.
“I’ve had a lot of traumatic events happen over the past year and a half,” Rodriguez-Gregg said to Politico. “I don’t want to get into all the personal details of it, but I just wanted to take some time to be with my family and I really couldn’t fully make a commitment to running for office right now.”
Nevertheless, her career may not be finished despite this ugliness. Politicians have shown time and again – from Donald Trump after his infamous Access Hollywood tapes were released to Marion Berry’s crack smoking on down to Ted Kennedy’s drunken murderous escapades – that horrific scandals cannot keep them down as long as they can connect to the general public.
Only time will tell if New Jersey voters will give Rodriguez-Gregg another chance to lead them in the future. She still has another year in the New Jersey assembly to rehab her image in lieu of the embarrassing video.
The entire 12 minute video is can be seen here: