Phil Murphy was surprised by this question at a public meeting by phone



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This is the unanswered question that has been asked dozens of times over the past two months and probably the last one that Governor Phil Murphy wanted to have asked on Wednesday night at a public meeting on the phone where he had is promoting a new $ 15 bill signed into law.

But the man identified as Anthony intercepted one of the people who reviewed the calls and went there.

"Who hired Al Alvarez?" Anthony, the penultimate interlocutor of the one – hour event asked the governor, referring to former councilor Katie Brennan, Murphy 's staff member, who l? had been raped during the governor's election campaign in 2017.

"That's not the question you said to ask," replied Murphy. "[19659002]" Here's what I'm going to say to that " continued the Democratic governor. "I have published today a statement about a report from an investigation into this whole affair … and I encourage you to read it. I will also speak to the press (Thursday).

Who hired a former Murphy aide accused of rape?

He was referring to the report funded by a taxpayer of former Supreme Court Justice Peter Verniero, who was commissioned by Murphy, who concluded that members of his entourage had acted in good faith but that the "system" had finally failed, Brennan.

Missing the report published after the four months of Verniero's investigation is the answer to the fundamental question that has upset lawmakers and Murphy declined to comment when New Jersey reporters asked him: Who hired Alvarez ?

Anthony asked.

"I totally disagree," said the governor, referring to Verniero's recommendation that the state broaden and clarify the rules governing equal opportunities in employment and model government transitions after presidential transitions, where candidates begin to gather their administrations before the general election.

"I think we need to take these steps collectively and we will take them collectively, and we will have learned many lessons," said Murphy. "I will talk longer."

Earlier in the day, Murphy admitted in a statement that his associates should have told him earlier about Brennan's allegation. He also said that his administration should proceed to a faster and decisive elimination of Alvarez.

Alvarez denied the charges, claiming that the incident was consensual and that two county attorney's offices had refused to charge him with a crime.

But Murphy said his associates should have done more.

"I fully respect the decisions made by two law enforcement entities concerning Mr. Alvarez, but once decided to separate him from the state government, he should have been treated more in detail. quickly and decisively, "Murphy said.

State legislators investigating the administration and its hiring practices say that Verniero's report will not end his investigation.

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, who co-chairs the committee, eviscerated the content of the report because she stated that she was not answering the key questions and holding anyone responsible. [19659002] NJ Advance Media st writers Susan K. Livio and Samantha Marcus contributed to this report.

Matt Arco is can be reached at marco @ njadvancemedia .com Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook .

Brent Johnson can be contacted at [email protected] . see him on Twitter @ johnsb01 .

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