Given the severity of the accusations made by Katie Brennan, “We didn’t want to have someone in the administration with that in their background,” former Governor Phil Murphy Chief of Staff Peter Cammarano told Al Alvarez when the latter was still employed in state government.

He was, of course, referring to the accusation by Brennan that Alvarez had raped her.

Cammarano said as much under oath, inquisitor Mike Critchley reminded Alvarez this afternoon.

On March 26th, Cammarano told Alvarez he had to leave state government,  Critchley reminded Alvarez, reading from Cammarano’s testimony.

Alvarez disagreed with the intent of the conversation.

He also maintained that the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office had not pursued a case against him.

Cammarano had a different opinion.

“He thought I should leave,” Alvarez said.

But…

“He did not make it clear to me that I had to leave,” Alvarez insisted.

How long did the meeting last?

“It felt like a lifetime, but maybe 15 minutes,” Alvarez said.

He wanted to try to keep his job.

Murphy counsel Matt Platkin in a subsequent phone conversation said his employment in state government was untenable, and his continued service would make it difficult for the governor. Alvarez said he would resign if the administration found him employment.

“I denied the allegation and felt it was unfair that were forcing me to leave,” Alvarez said.

The sitting chief of staff at the SDA, now under a new executive director, Lizette Delgado Polanco, then received a raise, from $140,000 to $170,000.

The October article in which the Wall Street Journal made Brennan’s allegations public prompted an internal reevaluation of Alvarez’s state professional fortunes.

Delgado Polanco stepped in.

“She was instructed to tell me if I would not resign I would be terminated immediately,” Alvarez told Critchley.