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Amid Sexual Assault Accusations Against Former Aide, New Jersey Governor Orders Investigation

Gov. Phil Murphy has ordered an investigation into the hiring of a former aide accused of sexually assaulting a campaign volunteer last year, saying Monday that he was "sick to my stomach" when he learned of the victim's story.

By Dustin Racioppi and James Nash

Gov. Phil Murphy has ordered an investigation into the hiring of a former aide accused of sexually assaulting a campaign volunteer last year, saying Monday that he was "sick to my stomach" when he learned of the victim's story.

New Jersey's attorney general also announced another investigation of the original sexual assault complaint, this one to be handled by another county prosecutor after the first recused herself citing a possible conflict of interest. 

During a news conference in Newark before he was set to leave for an overseas trade mission, Murphy said he did not know of the specific nature of volunteer Katie Brennan's allegation until Oct. 2. The aide, Albert Alvarez, resigned that day, shortly after the Wall Street Journal asked him about the alleged assault.

Brennan alleges that Alvarez, who was responsible for Latino outreach during the campaign, assaulted her in April 2017 after a gathering of campaign staff. Alvarez was later hired by the Schools Development Authority for $140,000 in a decision Murphy insisted he was not part of.

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