NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy used funds from an expense account funded by taxpayers to cover nearly $12,000 in expenses at MetLife Stadium, including a Taylor Swift concert, according to reports.
Records indicate costs included snacks and beverages at several events, almost $1,000 for a Taylor Swift concert in 2018, sporting events and a music festival presented by a New York City radio station, according to an investigation by Politico.
Murphy allegedly asked the Democratic State Committee to reimburse the state for the purchases.
A governor’s spokesperson, Jennifer Sciortino, confirmed that the Democratic State Committee was expected to pay these expenses because it “traditionally covers these costs.”
However, when it did not, the charges were covered by the governor’s $95,000 expense account.
"Once it was clear that there were outstanding bills that had not been paid, the state stepped up to meet this responsibility," Sciortino told Politico. “We are pursuing reimbursement from the state party for costs incurred at MetLife Stadium.”
Phil Swibinski, a spokesperson for the Democratic State Committee, stated that the current leadership was unaware of the invoice settled by the state and that the committee is looking into the situation.
“The state party regularly pays for the cost of food and beverage service at non-governmental events that the governor hosts, including at MetLife Stadium, and all of those payments are disclosed to ELEC according to state law," Swibinski told Politico.