DePhillips says Murphy’s office may’ve coordinated with outside groups to lobby his e-mail box
TRENTON, N.J. — Did the Murphy Administration use state resources to coordinate with the New Jersey Democratic State Committee and special interest groups? All with the goal of winning an upper hand in the recently concluded budget fight?
Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-40) says it’s a distinct possibility, and he wants the Governor’s office’s tactics investigated by state officials.
DePhillips, an attorney based in Northeastern New Jersey, says a member of the executive staff of Governor Phil Murphy reached out to confirm his personal e-mail address on Wednesday, June 27th.
What follows is his timeline of communications he received after confirming his personal e-mail a ddress (a timeline which he’s shared, verbatim, in letters to New Jersey’s Attorney General, the New Jersey State Ethics Commission, and Democrat legislative leaders):
Friday, June 29, 2018 at 8:01am: received email from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee with the subject line “More Than 100 Faith Leaders Support Governor’s Budget”
Friday, June 29, 2018 at 11:03am: received email from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee with subject line “BREAKING: Star-Ledger’s Moran Slams “Desperate” Shore Tax” when I have never before received an email from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.
Friday, June 29, 2018 at 1:15pm: received an email from No More Gimmicks NJ with the subject line “ICYMI: The Budget hole.”
One of the many e-mails received from Assemblyman DePhillips
Friday, June 29, 2018 at 3:50pm: received an email from No More Gimmicks NJ with the subject line “ICYMI Tax Millionaires – Not the Jersey Shore.”
Friday, June 29, 2018 at 3:55pm: received an email from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee with the subject line “Why Millionaires and Billionaires Should Pay Their Fair Share.”
Friday June 29, 2018 at 5:40pm: received an email from No More Gimmicks NJ with the subject line “ICYMI: Rosenstein: Dem leadership protecting millionaires over our communities and families.”
Friday, June 29, 2018 at 8:11pm: received email from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee with the subject line “MORE THAN 100 LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS SUPPORT MURPHY’S BUDGET.”
Friday, June 29, 2018 at 10:56pm: received email from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee with the subject line “A growing number of faith leaders support Gov. Murphy’s budget.”
Saturday, June 30, 2:05pm: received email from New Jersey Democratic State Committee with the subject line “Progressive Women Leaders Reject Fake Legislative Compromise”
Saturday, June 30, 3:09pm: received email from No More Gimmicks NJ with the subject line “MORAN: N.J. shutdown: Blame Sweeney for protecting the rich, not Murphy.”
Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 3:13pm: received email from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee with the subject line “MORAN: Blame Legislature for protecting the rich, not Murphy.”
Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 5:00pm: received a text message from an individual named Dylan with the New Jersey Working Families Alliance to my personal cell phone. The text states as follows: “Hi Chris, this is Dylan volunteering with New Jersey Working Families Alliance. Right now, your Legislator is siding with millionaires instead of you and your community! Even the Ledger blames them! Heep://bit.ly/LedgerShutdown Chris, will you join us in demanding that the state legislature says NO to the #SweeneyShutdown and we keep our beaches open for the 4th of July?”
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DePhillips shared screenshots of the e-mails/texts referenced in his timeline with Save Jersey. There are twelve in total from between June 29th and June 30th.
