Did trump violate murphy's law? Governor seeks ag investigation into fundraiser in bedminster

Did Trump Violate Murphy’s Law? Governor Seeks AG Investigation into Fundraiser in Bedminster

Posted by
1 min read
October 6, 2020

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Murphy Phil Murphy on Monday said he is referring the Trump case over to Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to investigate the president to see if he violated the Governor’s executive orders during his Bedminster meet and greet.  Known more commonly as “Murphy’s Law”, those executive orders are guidelines restricting how New Jersey residents and businesses can congregate and operate during the extended Murphy imposed state of emergency in New Jersey.

“Additionally, reports suggest the event itself may not have complied with our current rules, which may have put others at risk, and we continue to investigate these reports. Any failures to comply with our emergency orders will be referred to the Attorney General Gurbir Grewal for follow up. To put it bluntly, the actions leading up to and during this event have put lives at risk,” Murphy said of Trump’s fundraiser.

Luckily for the President, a March 2020 law proposed by local Republican Assemblymen Gregory P. McGuckin and John Catalo, never saw the light of day.  McGuckin and Catalano proposed a $15,000 fine for Murphy’s Law violations.

“In response to the continuation of public gatherings in various parts of the state in violation of an executive order during the COVID-19 public health crisis and State of Emergency, Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano (all R-10) will introduce legislation to create significant monetary penalties for those who host gatherings in violation of the “Emergency Health Powers Act.”  Governor Murphy has ordered all New Jerseyans to stay home to slow the transmission and spread of the coronavirus, a highly infectious disease,” the pair said in March. “There have been a number of large public gatherings since the Governor has issued the stay at home order, and we feel violators should face significant consequences for failure to comply with a directive that’s necessary to save lives.”

The bill, if taken seriously by the New Jersey legislature would have establishded a monetary penalty of $10,000 to $15,000 for any person who willfully or knowingly hosts gatherings in violation of any provision of the “Emergency Health Powers Act.”

Grewal has not released any updates on his now ongoing case into the Trump administration and the political gathering at the Bedminster golf course.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss