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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