Gateway Co-Chair sidelined after her cousin hired to sue Trump administration

The Gateway Development Corporation is suing the Trump administration in an effort to save $15 billion in funding for the Hudson River rail tunnels project, but the New Jersey Co-Chair won’t be involved in discussions so that her first cousin, former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, could bill the bistate entity building the tunnel legal fees that will likely hit seven figures.

Balpreet Grewal-Virk is standing down from her involvement in the litigation, a Hail Mary legal maneuver since funding is scheduled to be cut off at 5 PM today.  That leaves New Jersey down one board member at a critical time for the project.

Grewal-Virk, who also serves as vice chair of the Bergen County Democratic Committee, told the New Jersey Globe that she would not step down from the post so that Gov. Mikie Sherrill could name someone else.

“I’m going to continue to do the job I’ve been doing for five years and build the tunnel,” she said.

The GDC retained Milbank, the New York law firm where Grewal is a partner, along with former U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal.

A spokeswoman for the GDC declined to release disclose the Grewal’s hourly rate.

“The retainer agreement with Milbank is not currently a public document,” said Molly Beckhardt, a senior public affairs specialist.

Beckhardt said that Grewal-Virk sought guidance from the GDC ethics officer regarding recusals.

“GDC’s Acting General Counsel undertook a thorough review and determined that the circumstances did not rise to the threshold of a conflict of interest requiring recusal under GDC policy,” stated Beckhardt.  “Nonetheless, in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, Co-Chair Grewal-Virk has voluntarily elected to recuse herself.”

That includes all matters related to litigation and board action involving Milbank.

Grewal-Virk was named to the GDC board by Gov. Phil Murphy and renominated by Murphy during the recent lame duck legislative session.