DCCC offers jobs to Van Drew staffers who quit after boss’s party switch

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is offering jobs to staffers who resigned from New Jersey Rep. Jefferson Van Drew’s office Sunday citing the congressman’s decision to join the Republican Party.

DCCC Chairwoman Rep. Cheri Bustos (Ill.) on Monday tweeted that the congressional campaign arm will welcome the staffers who announced their resignations, as well as any others who leave, while they work to secure “jobs that align with their values.” 

“It’s right before the holidays and these staffers just quit their jobs to stand up for their Democratic values. We’ll bring them and others who leave on with the @dccc until they land new jobs that align with their values,” Bustos tweeted.

It’s right before the holidays and these staffers just quit their jobs to stand up for their Democratic values. We’ll bring them and others who leave on with the @dccc until they land new jobs that align with their values. (1/2)https://t.co/MqWVsnAGcN

— Cheri Bustos (@CheriBustos) December 15, 2019

She followed up with a tweet asking for donations to the Democratic nominee for New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, which Van Drew flipped in 2018. The southern New Jersey district had been held by Republicans for more than two decades before Van Drew’s win.

Five top staffers wrote a letter Sunday to Allison Murphy, Van Drew’s chief of staff, saying they would be resigning over Van Drew’s decision. 

Van Drew has been a vocal opponent of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.

The resigning staffers included deputy chiefs of staff Justin O’Leary and Edward Kaczmarski, legislative director Javier Gamboa, communications director Mackenzie Lucas and legislative staff assistant Caroline Wood.

The aides wrote that they could “no longer in good conscience” continue serving in the congressman’s office. 

In October, Van Drew was one of just two House Democrats to vote against the package of rules governing the impeachment process. The other was Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.).