was not allowed to hold public positions. Murphy stood by Jackson, but Jackson was forced to resign. On October 15, 2018, an independent investigation into Murphy's hiring of former Schools Development Authority Chief of Staff Al Alvarez was commissioned. The next day, the New Jersey Legislature announced it would form an investigative panel regarding Murphy's hiring decisions. In June 2019 35 employees of the Schools Development Authority were fired after it was determined that the director appointed by Murphy had hired those connected to her. Murphy also faces questions about Al Alvarez, who was accused of sexual assault by Katie Brennan, now chief of staff at the state's housing agency. Brennan alleged that Alvarez sexually assaulted her in April 2017, after a gathering of Murphy campaign staffers at a bar in Jersey City. Alvarez had offered to drive Brennan home and asked to go inside Brennan's home to use the bathroom. Once inside, Alvarez allegedly sexually assaulted her. Brennan claims she kicked Alvarez off and locked herself in a bathroom. Brennan claims she brought her allegations to the Murphy camp three times. The first time was when she alerted the transition team after Murphy won the election in November 2017 while working for the transition team. Brennan again brought the complaint in March 2018 to Matt Platkin, chief counsel to the governor, who referred the matter to an ethics official in the governor's office. Brennan emailed Murphy and his wife on June 1, 2018, saying she wanted to discuss a "sensitive matter." No discussion ever occurred, but Brennan said a campaign attorney told her Alvarez would no longer have a state government job. Alvarez stayed at his job for about four months after Brennan was told he would be out. A legislative report as highly critical of how Murphy's team handle the matter. Alvarez claims defamation. New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Peter Verniero will lead an independent investigation into a "systemic review of the hiring and vetting practices of the governor-elect’s transition office." Additionally, New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney will form a six-member, bipartisan committee to investigate the handling of sexual assault allegations against Alvarez, among other issues. "Murphy midterm" elections In the November 2019 election, referred to as the "Murphy midterm", the 1st Legislative District, traditionally a Republican stronghold, elected Republicans changing the composition of the New Jersey Legislature. Time out-of-state Murphy spent 95 days out of state