Following repeated criticism from Republicans that he hasn’t adhered to his own masking guidance at events, today Gov. Phil Murphy once again defended his maskless appearances at various events over the last two weeks.
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“I don’t think anyone in the state wears a mask indoors more than I do,” Murphy said at today’s twice-a-week Covid briefing. “When I speak, I take my mask off. I sat at a table … with people who I know were vaccinated. I got up and spoke, I had it on when I came in, and I put it on when I left.”
At the second gubernatorial debate last Tuesday, Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli criticized Murphy for attending a Garden State Equality-hosted event without a mask the week before; Murphy responded that he did wear a mask, and only took it off while speaking and taking a photo with a vaccinated friend.
But last Wednesday, Murphy attended a Monmouth County Democratic event where he was seen maskless even when seated among the crowd, which ignited a new wave of Republican criticism.
“It’s clear that arrogant Phil Murphy has no problem mandating masks for kids as young as 2 years old while selectively following his own rules and allowing his friends to do the same,” Republican State Committee communications director Alex Wilkes said last week.
Still, Murphy remains defiant that he’s followed his own advice, and that Republicans are pushing a flimsy angle of attack.
“Folks are reaching for straws here, in terms of the politics,” he said.