Probe Begun over Vax Standoff Between N.J. Troopers, GOP Lawmakers

The New Jersey State Police is conducting an internal investigation into a dramatic standoff earlier this month between troopers and Republican lawmakers who refused to comply with a new COVID-19 vaccine policy at the Statehouse in Trenton, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday.

“State Police is conducting a full investigation of what happened,” Murphy said during his latest coronavirus briefing. “We’re not going to be commenting further while the investigation is ongoing. However ... when it is complete, we’ll make the findings public as appropriate. The public, yes, does deserve a right to hear.”

The comments came a week after Murphy declined to answer questions about why State Police troopers ultimately allowed lawmakers to enter the state Assembly chamber even though they did not comply with the policy.

“Security is something that is not something we discuss as a general matter, and that includes in this case,” he said last Monday.

All visitors are now required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to enter the Statehouse in Trenton.

But on Dec. 2, a group of Republican members of the Assembly repeatedly declined to produce either as they attempted to walk into the Assembly for a voting session, claiming the policy was unconstitutional.

Troopers initially stopped them from proceeding for 15 minutes, but the lawmakers eventually walked onto the Assembly floor, saying the State Police indicated they would not physically stop them.

The Republicans then waited in the chamber for more than two hours as angry Democratic leaders tried unsuccessfully to remove them, saying the lawmakers were selfishly violating a policy to protect public health.

Murphy, a Democrat, said the Republicans’ actions were “irresponsible” and showed “idiocy.”

There was confusion throughout the day over whether the State Police had the authority or willingness to enforce the policy.

The nonpartisan New Jersey Office of Legislative Services said lawmakers can’t be arrested solely for not following the vaccine policy, though Democratic leaders of the state Legislature can exclude members from physically being in the building, as long as they are not barred from voting electronically. Under the policy, lawmakers are provided with rapid coronavirus tests at the Statehouse or have the option of voting remotely if they don’t comply.

Before the voting session, acting state Attorney General Andrew Bruck sent legislative leaders a letter saying troopers would indeed check people entering the Statehouse.

The lawmakers’ defiance came even though Republican leaders of the state Senate and Assembly filed a lawsuit challenging the policy’s constitutionality. A judge last week dismissed the lawmakers’ request to halt the policy while the case proceeds. The judge also set a court date for April, meaning the policy will remain for at least another four months.

The Assembly held committee hearings on a number of bills Monday at the Statehouse. Many Republicans chose to vote remotely instead of challenging the policy again in person.

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