DePhillips demands answers from Health Dept. on Neuwirth firing

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Christopher P. DePhillips sent a letter to the state health commissioner today (click here for PDF), seeking answers about the termination of former assistant commissioner Chris Neuwirth. The state has been noncommittal to the reason for his firing, but pointed to holding simultaneous private-sector employment.

“We need answers from the Department of Health,” said DePhillips (R-Bergen). “We need to know who specifically approved Neuwirth’s outside employment and on what basis. Beyond specific questions I have asked in my recent letter to Commissioner Persichelli, we also need to get to the bottom of all the leaks coming from the department’s employees.

“Was Neuwirth fired because of his outside employment, his job-related performance in response to the pandemic, or because he is a whistleblower?,” asked DePhillips. “Has data been driving the department’s decisions during the pandemic, or other considerations? The legislature deserves answers to these questions quickly.”

Click here to read the letter to Commissioner Persichelli.