New Jersey investigates Republican gala over Covid rule breaches - The Guardian

New Jersey’s governor, Phil Murphy, has said authorities are investigating a New York Republican club for holding a political gala fundraiser that appeared to violate the state’s coronavirus guidelines.

Photos and video posted on Twitter showed dozens of maskless partiers at the New York Young Republican Club event on Thursday night in Jersey City.

Governor Murphy, a Democrat, told a news briefing on Friday: “It is beyond the pale that anyone would willingly endanger people in another state, never mind their own,” adding that, “Jersey City law enforcement is currently investigating this matter.”.

The president of the New York Young Republican Club, Gavin Wax, scoffed at the criticism online, saying the group had done nothing wrong.

“We embrace life and living while you all cower in your pods worried about a disease with a 99%+ survivability rate,” he said in one tweet, referring to a pandemic that has killed more than 24,000 people in New York City alone and more than 17,000 in New Jersey!

Murphy criticised the club for holding the gala in New Jersey, saying that they “snuck” into Jersey City because they couldn’t find a venue that would take them in New York City.

“There is no obvious attempt to enforce social distancing or face masks, even though wearing masks indoors is mandatory at organised gatherings when not eating or drinking,” said Murphy, displaying a photo from the gala that showed people crowded around Gaetz for a photo.