In his opening statement to the select investigative committee, Al Alvarez told lawmakers that his sexual contact with Katie Brennan was consensual, and noted that investigations by the Hudson and Middlesex prosecutors’ offices will assist in exonerating him.

“False allegations have devastated my career,” Alvarez – former chief of staff at the state Schools Development Authority – said in his statement.

Attorney Michael Critchley immediately began cross-examining him.

He established the following:

Brendan Gill hired Alvarez to do community outreach for New Way New Jersey;

Brendan Gill hired him to lead Latino Outreach for the Murphy Campaign;

Jose Lozano hired him for the Murphy Transition Team.

“I was never aware that I had hiring authority, let alone that it was stripped of me,” Alvarez told Critchley. “My understanding is I was never notified that I was stripped of hiring authority.”