TRENTON, NJ – By now, everyone in New Jersey knows Health Department Commissioner Judith Persichilli and the Governor’s lawyer, Matthew Platkin. The two officials, along with New Jersey State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan have become supporting actors in the Governor’s daily COVID-19 news briefing, which for many is more like a recreation of Bill Murray’s hit movie, Groundhog Day.
Each day since COVID-19 began, New Jersey wakes up to the morning show, grabbing on to every word the governor speaks.
Can I keep my house? Will I still have a job? Can I go outside today? Will my business survive?
Those are real questions in the minds of New Jersey residents of all ages, sexes, races and religions.
While Phil Murphy delivers a polished show for television each morning, a report today by NJ.Com suggests that all is not happy in the house that Murphy built as his top aides struggle with media leaks regarding the dysfunctionality within his adminstration.
Things have gotten so bad that Judy, who needs no introduction, even offered her resignations according to those recordings. This came as Persichilli was accused by top Murphy Aides of recent leaks regarding the Governor’s arbitrary decisions during COVID-19 coming without health department input, frustrating those in her inner circle.
According to the report, Matt Platkin, Murphy’s most trusted advisor went so far as to tell Persichilli to fire everyone on her team.
“Well, we think it’s in your inner circle, Matt said get rid of everybody,” Persichilli said. “So I waited, paused and I went, ‘No, I am not going to do that. This is all targeted to me. So you will have my resignation in the morning. I’m the one that should leave first.’”
NJ.Com said the audio was recorded without permission and given to them by a top aide in the Murphy administration but did not release the audio recordings.