New Jersey Gov. Murphy allegedly used taxpayer funds on Taylor Swift concert and other events

Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) reportedly spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to cover expenses at several MetLife Stadium events in New Jersey, including nearly a thousand dollars incurred at a Taylor Swift concert, according to documents obtained by Politico.

The governor allegedly dipped into the state’s $95,000-a-year expense account to cover the nearly $12,000 bill, but the account is supposed to be used for “Official Receptions, Official Residence, and Other Official Expenses.” It cannot be used for personal expenses, according to the state budget.

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Murphy’s office is now asking the state Democratic Party to cover the expenses, claiming it had expected the party to pay the bills initially because it had previously done so.

“Once it was clear that there were outstanding bills that had not been paid, the state stepped up to meet this responsibility,” Jennifer Sciortino, a spokeswoman for Murphy, told Politico on Monday. “We are pursuing reimbursement from the state party for costs incurred at MetLife Stadium.”

George Walker IV/AP

The charges at the stadium in East Rutherford totaled $11,847 for snacks and beverages between 2018 and 2019. The charges included $936 for snacks during Swift’s 2018 concert and $1,413 at the Hot 97’s Summer Jam in June 2019. The other thousands of dollars were spent at various sporting events at the arena. Items on the receipts for one of the sporting events included $90 for bottled water and $45 for extra guacamole.

A spokesperson for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee said the party had not been aware of the large bill because of a change in party leadership but was looking into whether further action was needed.

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Murphy is not the only one to allegedly use the expense account at MetLife Stadium. Former Republican Gov. Chris Christie allegedly spent $82,594 on concessions at the stadium in 2010 and 2011, but the payments were reimbursed by the state Republican Party.

The Washington Examiner has reached out to the governor’s office for comment.