New Jersey's longtime U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell dies at 87; was vocal Trump critic

Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Veteran Democratic New Jersey U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell died Wednesday at 87 after suffering a respiratory illness that hospitalized him for nearly a month this summer.

He entered a rehab center Aug. 7, just days after being discharged from his month-long hospital stay. He was re-admitted to a hospital Aug. 12.

Pascrell served 14 terms, prided himself on an image as a street-savvy Jersey pol who didn't shy away from political fights and was fiercely anti-Trump.

He had been running for a 15th term.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning," said a family statement on Pacrell's X official account. "As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved. Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He is now at peace after a lifetime devoted to our great nation America."

Under state election law, New Jersey county party leaders will choose a new Democratic nominee by Aug. 29.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will schedule a special election for the remainder of Pascrell's term.

In 2022, Pascrell beat the Republican currently running for the seat 55%-43%.

He was widely known as a first responder advocate and friendships and ties to many police officers and firefighters.

Pascrell was a principal supporter of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act of 2000 that established the only federal program that provides grants directly to local fire departments across the country.

Pascrell was one of the House Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee in 2019 who went after former president Donald Trump 's tax returns.

He said the committee had an oversight responsibility to do what it could to reveal the tax returns, which were traditionally made pubic by presdiential candidates.

"We have a responsibility ," Pascrell said at the time. "You either live up to the responsibility or you don't."