A Trump-supporting New Jersey school-board member says she was shocked to learn her conservative politics led to a vile local group chat called “This Bitch Needs To Die.”
Danielle Bellomo, a mother of three, was the target of a series of threatening texts sent in a group chat that involved some candidates for the school board in Marlboro, including a man allegedly behind in the “Nipplegate’’ controversy aimed at her.
Danielle Bellomo, a conservative member of the Marlboro Township Board of Education in New Jersey, recounts when she saw the threatening text messages about her. LP Media
The messages were from a group chat titled, “This Bitch Needs to Die.” Obtained by the NY Post
In one exchange, Mitesh Gandhi, the husband of one of Bellomo’s fellow school-board members, allegedly called Bellomo “a lying c–t,” writing, “stupid c–t. I swear she can’t die soon enough,” and, “Mission is to just let her die by herself lol.”
A judge in Monmouth County extended a temporary restraining order against Gandhi after the messages went viral.
Bellomo said actually seeing the messages chilled her to her bones.
“When I read those words, ‘She can’t die soon enough,’ it stopped me in my tracks,” Bellomo told Fox News Digital.
One text read, “she can’t die soon enough.” Obtained by the NY Post
“I always knew there was disagreement politically, but I never really wrapped my head around the fact that they actually wanted me dead.”
Two board candidates later dropped out of the race in the wake of the scandal.
Another viral message, part of what was dubbed “Nipplegate” in October, appeared to show former board candidate Scott Semaya typing during a public meeting, “Bellomo must be cold — her nips could cut glass right n,” with his finger positioned to press the “o” key on his phone.
The husband of a school board member allegedly referred to Bellomo as “a lying c—” and said, “Mission is to just let her die by herself lol.” Obtained by the NY Post
Bellomo, who has volunteered in various capacities in Marlboro Township schools for more than a decade, said she ran for the board to make a difference in her community and support parental rights, not to become a target over petty political differences.
“I got involved in the school boards because I’m an active volunteer in our community. I’ve been involved with the parent organization that I account for going on 12 years,” she told the outlet.
“So I saw the school board as the next step in furthering my involvement in the community, and I wanted it to enhance my children’s educational experience while they were in the K-3 district. I never imagined that it would have led to this.”
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She said the threats particularly unsettled her children, who have grown fearful for her safety.
“My son is almost a teenager. He used to go places with his friends — now he asks if someone is going to come to our house,” she said.
“My 8-year-old cries if she thinks I have a board meeting. My youngest keeps asking if I’m safe.”
Former public-school teacher Lenny Thor, board Vice President Chad Hyett and Mitesh Gandhi, the husband of a sitting board member, were allegedly in the group chat. Chad Michael Hyett/Facebook
She said her oldest son, a middle-schooler, was humiliated upon seeing the screenshots of grown men lewdly speaking about his mother’s body on social media.
“That was humiliating for him,” she said. “He’s a middle-schooler. His friends saw it. It has affected every part of our life.”
She said online sniping happens in the midsize town about 40 miles southwest of New York City, but that the widely publicized text exchange takes things to new and disturbing heights.
“That was humiliating for him,” Bellomo said about her son seeing the comments about her body. Danielle Bellomo/ Facebook
“When I realized that there wasn’t just one but two different communications and possibly, you know, who knows how many more where one communication is a group chat that was titled, ‘This B—- needs to die,’ and then the other is actually plans and that there’s a mission and the mission is to watch me die or to have me die alone…. It really just takes it to a whole different level. It’s like, this is not just normal disagreement,” she said.
Bellomo had a sympathetic judge rule in her favor on the protective order but had no such luck on the criminal side of things.
She said the Marlboro Police Department referred the case to county prosecutors, who declined to press charges.
Gandhi lost his bid to have the protective order tossed against him. Mitesh Gandhi/Facebook
“I was disheartened but not surprised,” she said. “We have a Democrat prosecutor. The police recommended charges, but he didn’t follow through.”
Monmouth Prosecutor Raymond Santiago’s office previously told The Post in a statement that the allegations didn’t rise to the level of an “indictable” offense.
Bellomo also voiced disappointment over the actions — or lack thereof — of district principal Dr. Michael Ballone and Board President Brian Cohen, who she said “did nothing” about the situation.
“The Marlboro Township Public Schools (MTPS) takes the safety and security of all board members, staff, students, and families extremely seriously,” Ballone wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital.
School board candidate Scott Semaya quit the race after someone posted a screen grab of the vicious and crude texts he allegedly sent during a public meeting about Bellomo, whom he was running against. Scott Semaya/ Facebook
“Administration has responded accordingly to Mrs. Bellomo’s concerns, including her expressions of feeling unsafe by working with the Marlboro Police Department, the entity responsible for ensuring all Marlboro residents (including Board members) are protected,” he said.
“We also added to our internal safety protocols which cannot be disclosed publicly. … MTPS believes in maintaining a secure environment for everyone.”
Bellomo said the horrifying incident has led to an outpouring of messages from women who said it’s discouraged them from pursuing public service.
“They say, ‘I could never go through what you’re going through,’” she told the outlet. “That’s heartbreaking. Local government should not require you to put your family at risk.
“I used to go to every school event, every community activity,” she said. “Now I keep the kids home from things. I send my husband inside first to check if people are there who shouldn’t be. My life changed overnight.”
Still, despite it all, Bellomo said she has no intention of leaving the board.
“I absolutely want to continue,” she said. “This mission is too important. And I hope the district eventually implements the policies that are supposed to protect us.”