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New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is taking heat after state flag-status records showed flags at full-staff despite a White House proclamation directing U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide in remembrance of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., through Saturday evening.
“This is probably the most political [Trenton administration], and she’s only been there six months — probably the most political governor I’ve served with in the last 25 years,” New Jersey state Sen. Joe Pennacchio, R-Boonton, told Fox News Digital on Thursday. He formally requested the governor lower the flags earlier this week following Graham’s death.
A Trenton source confirmed that flags at the Capitol remained at full-staff as of Thursday midday. A New Jersey Department of State website tracking flag status also indicated “all flags full-staff” on Thursday.
Sherrill, whose office did not respond to multiple requests for comment, appeared to be one of a handful of Democratic state leaders to ignore the White House’s proclamation – as neighboring Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro both ordered flags lowered, reportedly along with leaders of California, Colorado, Maryland,
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger did not appear to issue half-staff orders either – as each state’s official flag status remained “full-staff” as of Thursday. Fox News Digital reached out to both governors for comment.
Pennacchio told Fox News Digital that after inaction from Sherrill on lowering the flags, he crafted a formal request.
Pennacchio said that honoring people like Graham should be nonpartisan – because Graham was a respected public figure as well as a decades-long U.S. Air Force veteran and someone who also exuded a bipartisan nature particularly on key votes like confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
“My request was very respectful. It wasn’t partisan at all,” he said, noting that Sherrill is also a veteran.
Pennacchio said Graham himself would speak about the importance of putting politics aside in important moments like this, recounting that the South Carolinian defended his aisle-crossing confirmation votes by saying his advise-and-consent role was to consider whether a nominee is qualified regardless of party.
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When Sherrill was in Congress she represented Pennacchio’s state Senate district. He told Fox News Digital that he had hope for bipartisanship with Sherrill because the two offices worked very well together on intergovernmental constituent services.
Sherrill’s decision not to lower flags also ran counter to one of New Jersey’s other most prominent Democrats, Sen. Cory Booker, who recorded a video honoring Graham.
In his video, Booker spoke of how – as a freshman senator – he was told by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., that Graham would be a good bipartisan colleague to work with on criminal justice reform.
Booker recounted walking up to Graham and breaching the topic, as Graham jokingly admonished him that he was in a South Carolina primary with a “bat—t crazy” opponent and that he can’t even be seen with Democrats.
Graham said Booker should come back to him after the election – and he did.
“True to his word, [Graham] rolled up his sleeves and he went to work,” Booker said, adding that their collaboration ended in the passage of the First Step Act.
Booker did not respond to a request for comment on this story, but Pennacchio said he appreciated the Democrat’s gesture.
“Senator Booker is as partisan as they come, but he did the right thing and put his partisanship aside,” Pennacchio said. “The death of one diminishes a little bit of all of us.”
Another New Jersey figure who did speak out after Graham’s passing was Rep. Christopher Smith, a Republican representing the Jersey Shore and the Garden State’s longest-serving congressman.
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“Lindsey Graham was an indefatigable and courageous fighter for the right to life, human rights, liberty and freedom,” Smith said earlier this week.
“He was articulate and persuasive and brought both incisive candor and humor to debate. He was a national treasure and will be deeply missed. My wife, Marie, and I offer our deepest condolences to his family.”
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Fox News Digital also reached out to Booker’s counterpart, Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., for comment on the situation.
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“Our nation has long understood that when a public servant passes away after a lifetime of service to the American people, we come together and honor them with dignity and respect. New Jersey should not be the exception,” Pennacchio said.
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