'Above my pay grade': New Jersey governor claims Bill of Rights did not factor into his coronavirus executive orders
Fox News host Tucker Carlson pressed Murphy on the constitutionality of his recent executive orders that deem liquor stores essential and business and churches nonessential, which Murphy said he did not consider.
"As I noted before, 15 congregants at a synagogue in New Jersey were arrested and charged for being in a synagogue together. Now, the Bill of Rights, as you well know, protects Americans' right, enshrines their right, to practice their religion as they see fit and to congregate together, to assemble peacefully. By what authority did you nullify the Bill of Rights in issuing this order? How do you have the power to do that?" Carlson asked.
"That’s above my pay grade, Tucker," Murphy responded, saying he "wasn’t thinking of the Bill of Rights when we did this."
"Well, I can tell," Tucker interjected.
"Here's the thing, we know we need to stay away from each other, number one. Number two, we do have broad authority within the state. And number three, we would never do that without coordinating, discussing, and hashing it out with the leaders, the variety of the leaders of the faith of New Jersey," Murphy later said.
Authorities in other states have faced blowback for strict executive orders that limit outdoor social activities and gatherings. The Raleigh Police Department faced massive online opposition after categorizing protesting as a "nonessential activity."
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been chided by police officers within her own state for using her executive authority during the coronavirus pandemic to ban the sale of nonessential goods, including paint, car seats, and gardening equipment. Whitmer's social distancing executive orders also include a ban on travel between residences.
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