Check out these money graphs in a Sue Livio NJ.com story this afternoon:

Sharing the stage in the Trenton War Memorial each afternoon with Murphy, the commissioner goes through the daily numbers of the terrible toll being taken by COVID-19. The hospitalizations. The total patients on ventilators. The deaths in each county. And the dead coming out of the state’s nursing homes—where some 1 out of 13 residents have been taken in the deadly outbreak that spread out of control through New Jersey’s long-term care facilities.

But in the recording, Persichilli described terse exchanges with “George and Matt.” George Helmy is the governor’s chief of staff, and Matt Platkin serves as his chief counsel.

“The whole thing with this consultant. I told the governor, I said ‘Governor, I am not opposed to a consultant coming in. Call anyone you want. But do it the right way,’” Persichilli is heard saying. “George and Matt told me it was an appropriate process. And it wasn’t. And I wouldn’t sign it.”