Campaign worker sought in torching of Newark candidate's bus

NEWARK

An arrest warrant has been issued for Michael Benkowski, for allegedly setting Ras Baraka's campaign bus on fire in February.

Baraka's opponent, Shavar Jeffries, admitted Benkowski worked for him but denied having knowledge of the arson.

Baraka says he doesn't buy it.

"They tried to throw the rock and hide their head, and this kind of leadership is not the leadership that we need in this city at all. We need leadership that's going to break up these bosses, break up this old politics," Baraka said.

Another Jeffries campaign worker who allegedly drove Benkowski to the bus has not been charged.

Both Jeffries and Baraka have called for federal monitoring of the race. The election is May 13th.

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