New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy blasts New York Young Republicans for 'sneaking in' to hold maskless gala in his state - as venue where MAGA star Matt Gaetz partied is closed

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has blasted the New York Young Republican club for 'sneaking into his state' and flouting Covid-19 restrictions to hold their 108th annual gala Thursday night. 

At least 100 guests were seen leaving the gala, which was moved across the river to New Jersey after the club came under fire for holding the event in Manhattan.  The location had been kept secret for fear of 'violent left-wing' attacks, according to the group's president.

On Friday the waterfront Jersey City venue was shut down and Gov. Murphy took to Twitter to express his anger. 

'Last night, the @NYYRC allegedly snuck into Jersey City to hold a 'gala fundraiser' – ignoring our social distancing and mask rules. It is beyond the pale that anyone would willingly endanger people in another state. Jersey City law enforcement is investigating this matter,' Murphy said. 

The governor went on to slam Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attending. Gaetz, who was the guest of honor, was seen in several photos and videos on the dance floor and taking selfies with guests .    

'It is also beyond the pale that Rep Matt Putz – I mean @RepMattGaetz – would participate in this. What a fool. Matt – You are not welcome in New Jersey, and frankly I don't ever want you back in this state,' Murphy said.   

The New York Young Republican club held their 108th annual gala Thursday in Jersey City, New Jersey despite Covid-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings. Rep. Matt Gaetz attended as guest of honor after Sen. Sarah Palin canceled due to travel safety concerns

On Friday the venue was shut down and the event was blasted by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy who said they 'snuck into Jersey City'

The governor went on to slam Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attending and called him a 'fool' 

Gaetz responded Friday afternoon in a tweet saying, 'Dear Business Owners - Escape the Tyrany . Move to Florida.' 

The group was forced to move the event to waterfront venue Maritime Parc in Jersey City, New Jersey, to avoid New York's stricter guidelines for indoor events. 

Gov. Murphy took to Twitter to express his anger Friday 

It was originally scheduled to be held at Cadwell Factory event space in Chelsea, Manhattan. But after anti-fascist activists organized multiple calls to the location, the new location was made secret and never announced. 

New York is only allowing venues to hold indoor gathering with 25 percent capacity or 50 people, while New Jersey allows for indoor political or religious gatherings with up to 25 percent of a room's capacity or 150 people.  

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop called the event 'an egregious violation' of the state's safety mandates. 

Fulop told the Daily Beast Friday that the 'establishment has been ordered closed'.

Gaetz stepped in as a special guest after Gov. Sarah Palin canceled due to travel concerns. 

Gaetz was seen in a crowd of people on the dance floor and posed for photos with several guests at the maskless event, appearing in one selfie with guest Joel Fischer, who tweeted the photo with a message to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

'Hey @NYGovCuomo,' he wrote. 'Come and get me.' The governor of New Jersey, where he posted from, is Phil Murphy. 

After the gala, Gaetz returned to DC and voted to decriminalize marijuana Friday morning in clear violation of quarantine orders. 

Gaetz responded Friday afternoon in a tweet saying, 'Dear Business Owners - Escape the Tyrany . Move to Florida'

At least 100 guests were seen leaving the gala, which was moved across the river to Jersey City, New Jersey after the club received backlash for holding the event. Among those 

One photo from the night shows a group of at least 20 people, including Gaetz, on the dance floor without masks 

Gaetz posed for photos with several guests at the maskless event, including one who posted the selfie and wrote: 'Hey @NYGovCuomo. Come and get me' The governor of New Jersey, where he posted from, is Phil Murphy

Socialite Andrea Catsimatidis, the Manhattan Republican Party Chairwoman and daughter of Gristedes supermarket billionaire John Catsimatidis, also spoke at the event and received an award. Also in attendance was James O'Keefe, the founder of conservative group Project Veritas, who spoke at the event

The club said on Instagram as it posted pictures from the event, 'The press tried to stop us. Politicians tried to stop us. Nobody can stop us.'

It also poked fun at the restrictions by using the hashtag #ForbiddenGala. 

'The press attacked us. The politicians scorned us. But we prevailed,' the club said in another Instagram caption, showing a group of at least 20 people, including Gaetz, on the dance floor. 

Also in attendance was James O'Keefe, political activist and the founder of conservative group Project Veritas, who spoke at the event.

Socialite Andrea Catsimatidis, the Manhattan Republican Party Chairwoman and daughter of Gristedes supermarket billionaire John Catsimatidis, also spoke at the event and received an award. 

Throughout the night guests took to social media to boast about flouting Covid-19 restrictions. 

'This #ForbiddenGala is lit,' the Vice President of the group said on Instagram under a photo with Gaetz.  

The group was forced to move the event to Maritime Parc in Jersey City, New Jersey, to avoid New York's stricter guidelines for indoor events

It was originally scheduled to be held at Cadwell Factory event space in Chelsea, Manhattan. But after anti-fascist activists organized multiple calls to the location, the location was made secret and never announced

New York is only allowing venues to hold indoor gathering with 25 percent capacity or 50 people, while New Jersey allows for indoor political or religious gatherings with up to 25 percent of a room's capacity or 150 people

Ahead of the event, Gavin M. Wax, the 26-year-old president of the club said they were keeping the location secret due to 'the safety of our guests from violent left-wing attacks.'

In a statement to the New York Times, Wax said, 'As it stands now we are legally within our right to hold this gala, following all the necessary precautions.

'Other events have gone on indoors, ours is only receiving attention because we are a Young Republican club.' 

Throughout the night guests took to social media to boast about flouting Covid-19 restrictions

The invitation for Thursday's gala named O'Keefe and Gaetz as featured guest and provided the secret location  

New York City Democrat Sen. Brad Hoylman bashed the group for going ahead with the event. Holyman's aunt died of the coronavirus this year. 

'I found it jaw-dropping that any group would organize an in-person gathering that could be a superspreader event, particularly a political organization that should be sensitive to these types of public concerns,' he said.   

Gaetz said in a statement before the gala, 'I'm honored to be invited, and I'm looking forward to the event.' 

It also appears Gaetz went against both New York and New Jersey's guidelines to quarantine for 14 days when traveling from out of state. 

Gaetz, the representative for Florida's 1st Congressional District, likely traveled from his state or Washington to attend Thursday night's event.