Kean: Leak Violated Rules, Should Face Discipline

In a joint statement released Tuesday, State Senators Thomas Kean Jr. and Gerald Cardinale said the leak of confidential information submitted by Supreme Court nominees was a violation of senate rules.

The Star-Ledger reported details of the two nominees, and Phillip Kwon of Closter, Tuesday morning. , the information was obtained through detailed questionnaires submitted by Harris and Kwon to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The information includes career background and details, property owned and the outstanding amounts of their mortgages.

Kean, who represents Chatham Borough, said whoever is responsible for the leak "has not only damaged the integrity of the confirmation process, but has also called into question their own fitness to serve on a committee which routinely handles sensitive and deeply personal information."

Cardinale, whose constituency includes Closter, said the leak is "a serious violation of the rules of the Senate."

The two also sent Senate President Stephen Sweeney a letter, which may be found in the Photos/PDFs section of this article. The letter reads, in part, "it is crucial that the party or parties responsible for violating [the rules of confidentiality] be identified and disciplined accordingly." They requested the responsible person or persons should be recused from the remainder of the confirmation process.

Kean and Cardinale also said the committee needed to continue the confirmation proceedings "in a quick and timely manner before any further confidential information is maliciously released."

Harris did not immediately respond to requests for comment.