GOP hopeful Ciattarelli rips NJ Gov Murphy over Bill of Rights 'above my pay grade' comment

New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli responded to Gov. Philip Murphy's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, taxation and COVID executive orders on "Tucker Carlson Tonight."

In April 2020, Carlson asked Murphy about a case in which 15 men were arrested for congregating at a Lakewood, N.J., synagogue for the funeral of Orthodox Rabbi Chaim Moshe Strulovics in violation of his executive order banning large gatherings.

'The Bill of Rights, as you well know, protects Americans' rights — enshrines their right to practice their religion as they see fit and to congregate together to assemble peacefully," Carlson said. "By what authority did you nullify the Bill of Rights in issuing this order? How do you have the power to do that?"

"That's above my pay grade, Tucker," Murphy responded. "I wasn't thinking of the Bill of Rights when we did this ... we looked at all the data and the science and it says people have to stay away from each other. That is the best thing we can do to break the back of the curve of this virus, that leads to lower hospitalization and ultimately fatalities."