HILLSIDE, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy violated two mandates of his own executive orders this weekend to join a political and social rally in Hillside, New Jersey in which more than 25 individuals gathered outside and with rampant social distancing violations. Now, New Jersey Assemblyman Jay Webber is call for the Governor to be charged, just as small businesses and individuals across the state have been charged for violating the governor’s orders over the past three months.
“Photographic and written evidence on social media indicates that one Philip Dunton Murphy of Middletown openly and brazenly defied Executive Order 148 by purposely, repeatedly, and wantonly associating with others in groups of greater than 25 individuals, and aiding and abetting such behavior,” Webber wrote in a letter to New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan. “Consistent with the treatment of other individuals who have committed similar acts, that behavior appears to merit a criminal citation for violations pursuant to N.J.S.A. App.A 9-49(h) and 9-50. A violator of those laws “shall be adjudged a disorderly person and shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 6 months or shall pay a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or to both a fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.”
In the ongoing effort to clamp down on those who would commit acts that our Governor has lectured us would threaten the public health and safety of us all, I write to inform you of two separate violations of Executive Order 148 that occurred yesterday in Westfield and Hillside, Webber said.
As you yourself have warned, “Because lives are at stake, enforcement action will be taken without hesitation against those who are blatantly placing the lives of others at risk.” Attorney General Grewal also has emphasized, “I said we were done with warnings and would take strong law enforcement action against anyone who failed to heed the Governor’s COVID-19 related emergency orders. This crackdown will continue until everyone gets the message that they need to stop these violations.”
“The whereabouts of Mr. Murphy are unknown to my office at this time, but I have reason to believe that he will be seated about 15 feet to your right at 2:30 p.m. today at the War Memorial in Trenton. I trust you will uphold your public duty to the fair and consistent enforcement of our laws at that time,” Webber said.