DOJ subpoenas Democratic NJ Gov Murphy after saying he would house immigrant at his house: report

The Department of Justice has subpoenaed Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy after he said that he would house an immigrant at his house, daring the feds to get her, according to a report.

Alina Habba, the interim U.S. attorney in New Jersey, is investigating Murphy’s remarks, three unnamed sources told The New York Times, according to the newspaper’s Friday report. The FBI has sought interviews with at least four witnesses in connection with the comments, and the governor has been subpoenaed but not questioned.

Murphy made the comments in February, saying there was a person in his social circles “whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to.”

“And we said, ‘You know what? Let’s have her live at our house above our garage,’” Murphy said. “And good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.”

President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, said at the time, “We’ll look into it.”

Afterward, Murphy walked back the statement, saying that the woman he referenced was in the country legally and never lived at his home, NJ Spotlight News reported.

Both Murphy’s office and the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment on the federal inquiry to the Times.

Someone close to Murphy told the Times that the governor was unaware of any pending investigation against him.