Names and faces

■ In his farewell speech to Congress on Thursday, freshman U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham of South Carolina made it one for the road, cracking open a can of beer in a toast to his fellow members in a sign-off of his brief tenure. “For the betterment of this country, we have to come together. We have to sit down and listen to each other, and maybe even have a beer,” Cunningham, a Democrat, said, reaching into his suit jacket and pulling out a can. “In the spirit of bipartisanship, of cooperation, I raise this glass to my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans.” It wasn’t the first time Cunningham — who made brewery stops throughout the 1st District part of his campaign routine — has involved beer in his official duties. In 2019, the freshman was stopped from taking a six-pack of beer onto the House floor because alcohol is prohibited. At the time, Cunningham said he was trying to give a collection of South Carolina brews to U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, co-chairman of the House’s Small Brewer’s Caucus. Cunningham, who lost his bid for a second term to Republican Nancy Mace in November, called out politicians who “consistently put their party ahead of their own people,” a reflection on his “Lowcountry over Party” campaign slogan. “I’ve been trying to work with people since the first day I got here,” said Cunningham, who has received plaudits from several groups for his bipartisan work, also noting that President Donald Trump has signed two of his bills into law. “The other side is not the enemy.”

■ A reputed mobster admitted assaulting the then-boyfriend and now husband of Dina Manzo, a former “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast member in exchange for a deeply discounted lavish wedding reception. John Perna, 43, of Cedar Grove, N.J., pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. Manzo left the Bravo reality series in 2015. Prosecutors accused Thomas Manzo, the former husband of Dina Manzo, of hiring Perna to assault Dave Cantin, his ex-wife’s then-boyfriend. She married Cantin in June 2017. Prosecutors said Perna is part of the Lucchese organized crime family and carried out the assault with a member of his crew in July 2015, prosecutors said. Authorities said a month later, Perna held a wedding reception for 330 guests at Thomas Manzo’s Brownstone Restaurant in Paterson for “a fraction of the price.” Perna faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he’s sentenced on April 28. Thomas Manzo is awaiting trial after pleading innocent to conspiracy and committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity.

Cunningham

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