After a review by the New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal says that Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez acted appropriately when her office investigated rape allegations made by Katie Brennan.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“In particular, OPIA reviewed whether the Prosecutor improperly influenced the resolution of the investigation due to a conflict of interest of otherwise,” the letter sent to state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) yesterday said.
” … Based on this review, the OPIA found no evidence that Prosecutor Suarez improperly in any respect regarding this investigation. According to all of those interviewed, the Prosecutor had no involvement in the manner in which the investigation was conducted, or the decision about whether or not to bring charges.”
After Brennan, the chief of staff at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, publicly accused Albert Alvarez of raping her after a Phil Murphy – then a Democratic candidate for governor – campaign event last year, Suarez came under fire for not bringing charges.
The incident allegedly occurred at Brennan’s Jersey City home and further scrutiny came when Grewal reopened the case and put it in the hands of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Despite these facts, Suarez stood by her office’s decision and maintained that she had no involvement in investigating the case.
Grewal’s letter was sent the same day that he issued a directive announcing new law enforcement practices in regards to sexual assault cases in New Jersey.
Brennan is expected to testify in front of a special legislative committee about the incident next week.