New Jersey Mayor Charges at Constituent During Heated Town Meeting
Pemberton Township Mayor Matthew Bianchini had to be restrained by multiple individuals after confronting a resident.
A contentious town meeting in Pemberton Township, New Jersey, devolved into chaos Wednesday evening when Mayor Matthew Bianchini, 59, charged across the council chambers towards a resident.
Video footage of the incident, captured by the Pine Barrens Tribune and shared on social media, shows Mayor Bianchini leaving his seat and pointing at a constituent identified as Michael Sawka. As Bianchini approached, another man stepped between them, shouting for him to stop. Two other individuals then intervened, restraining the mayor against a wall.
During the altercation, Bianchini was heard telling Sawka, "I am f****** getting you." Sawka responded by stating, "You should resign," prompting Bianchini to attempt another lunge, at which point he was held back by three men.
Bianchini was subsequently led away to a side room, and all involved in the disturbance were asked to leave the meeting. Sawka stated that he wanted police to arrest the mayor for assault.
Another angle from the township's livestream showed Bianchini and Sawka exchanging words across the room. Seconds before the mayor's outburst, Sawka was seen giving Bianchini the middle finger.
In comments to WPVI, Bianchini, a Republican, admitted he "snapped" and cited a "fraught relationship" with Sawka. He alleged that Sawka and another resident had made disparaging remarks to his wife and daughter, who were present at the meeting. "Was it wrong? Absolutely. Was it justified? Absolutely. And I would do it again if I had to," Bianchini said, adding, "Don't attack my family. I think any good husband, any good father, would've done just what I did."
Bianchini also issued an apology for his language, stating, "I should not have said that. That was wrong. It was in the heat of the moment. I'm not gonna get anybody."
Sawka denied making any comments to the mayor's family and asserted that he remained calm throughout the incident. "I'm just sitting there. I never got up. I sat there the whole time. I was calm the whole time," he told reporters. Sawka expressed his desire for Bianchini to resign from his mayoral position and refrain from any future political involvement.