PRESS RELEASE: NJGOP Chairman Calls For Independent Investigation Into Sexual Misconduct In The Murphy Administration

Earlier this week it was reported former Schools Development Authority Chief of Staff Albert J. Alvarez resigned. And, yesterday Politico broke the story that Alvarez had been accused of sexual misconduct. This morning, NJGOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt has called for an investigation. Steinhardt’s press release is below:

NJGOP Chairman Calls For Independent Investigation Into Sexual Misconduct In The Murphy Administration

Trenton, NJ - As a candidate for Governor, Phil Murphy vowed to "fight to stop sexual harassment and assault". 

Yesterday, Politico reported former Murphy transition team member and Schools Development Authority Chief of Staff Albert J. Alvarez, was accused of sexual misconduct against a woman last year, but only just resigned last week.

NJGOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt reacted swiftly to the news by calling on the legislature to conduct an independent, bi-partisan investigation.

"While it might be Governor Murphy's “new norm” to overlook illegal actors and bribe takers, it cannot be New Jersey's norm," said Chairman Steinhardt. "The stakes are too great and the country is watching."

Steinhardt continued, “New Jersey needs to know if Governor Murphy would go as far as to shelter someone like Al Alvarez. We call on the State legislature to conduct an independent investigation into the treatment of sexual misconduct within the Murphy Administration," said Chairman Steinhardt. "Transparency in this matter is tantamount. America's zero tolerance for this kind of behavior is well documented and well justified. What exactly were the criminal charges? What did the administration know and when? Finally, what happened to the allegations and, more important, the accuser? New Jersey deserves answers to these and the scores of other questions raised by this article and these revelations. We call on the State’s legislative leaders, Sweeney, Kean, Coughlin and Bramnick, to come together and conduct a thorough investigation.”

“If this is the “new norm” then we are failing.”

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Van Drew And Grossman Debate

Jeff Van Drew/Seth Grossman

State Senator Jeff Van Drew and Seth Grossman finally debated. I was excited to see this debate, unfortunately I had to pretend to be an auto mechanic, somewhat successfully, no spare parts and only broke one small un-needed piece. But enough of that!

So, thanks to tonight’s debate winner, SNJ Today, I was able to watch on YouTube.

The tone was set in the opening statements.

Jeff Van Drew: “Do we want our news to look like a reality TV show every night?”

Seth Grossman: “I support President Trump. That’s why I’m running. I want to give him a strong majority of Republicans in Congress.”

There were some other highlights that most of you likely already read on InsiderNJ or New Jersey Globe, so I’ll spare you.

Like most debates, I’m fairly certain nobody changed their minds, there was no knock out blow. Nikita Biryukov at New Jersey Globe captured the event nicely writing, in part:

During the tense-hour-long event that included occasionally-heated exchanges over topics like immigration and taxes, Grossman reiterated support for President Donald Trump and his policies while Van Drew walked the moderate line so tightly it would have been difficult to tell which party he belonged to had his party affiliation not appeared in a chyron at the start of the event.

If you missed the debate, here it is, courtesy of the folks at SNJ Today

George Norcross Was Wiretapped. So What!

George Norcross

Last night, shortly after arriving at the Camden County Republican Committee’s Fall Reception, my phone exploded with text messages with links to stories about George Norcross having been “monitored” by the feds.

South Jersey Republicans were excited about this news. CD1 Republican candidate Paul Dilks took to social media with a message, “Breaking news... Reign of Norcross coming to an end...time for change. Draining the swamp wasn’t enough in South Jersey, we have to dredge the sludge! South Jersey needs a leader, not a boss!” He included a link to the Politico version of the story.

For some reason South Jersey Republicans get excited when they hear the name George Norcross. Well, here’s a newsflash for you. Voters don’t care! His name is not on the ballot.

I know for a fact Camden County Republicans have polled his name in the past. The name George Norcross, while recognized, didn’t move voters. I polled his name for a candidate once. Nothing!

So what? His phone calls were monitored by the feds. In New Jersey it is a fact of life that people who play hardball politics might end up on an audio recording somewhere. I personally know, both Democrats and Republicans, who have been under some type of scrutiny and did nothing illegal.

That time I released expunged police records and a freeholder had me charged criminally after the case was dismissed my attorney advised me that “people may be listening to your phone calls.” There was that time that close to 15 years ago Al Sullivan of the Hudson Reporter wrote that sources close to me said I was paid a visit from the feds. To my knowledge I am still not at liberty to discuss if that visit happened, so draw your own conclusion, but I never went to prison so I assume that if that visit took place they found I did nothing wrong.

It’s a fact, Norcross plays hardball politics. As Republicans, especially in South Jersey, we don’t like it, he makes it very difficult for us to win, even at the municipal level.

One thing I do know is that Norcross respects those who aren’t afraid to play hardball, too. I know this first hand. There was that time I made his brother Donald Norcross yell at me during a debate back in 2003. The video is still circulating online. I’ve run into both, George and Donald Norcross, and we’ve shared a laugh or two over that incident. Well, maybe pleasant smiles.

You want to beat Norcross? Find an issue that gets an emotional response and ride it hard. Maybe the tax breaks mentioned in the recent Norcross news might help. Taxpayers don’t like rich people getting tax breaks. But the fact someone listened to Norcross’ phone calls isn’t going to win an election.

And, just for fun, I’ll leave you with that video: