Gov. Phil Murphy has replaced three members of the embattled State Board of Chiropractic Examiners after a controversial vote to reinstate the license of a convicted sex offender from Paramus.
Murphy is dumping Brett Wartenberg, Thomas Senatore and Paul Lyons and replacing them with Kelly Blunder, Uchenna Abba Onyeani and Michael Kaufman. All six are chiropractors.
Despite warnings from the attorney general, the board voted to reinstate the license Dr. Bryan Bajakian, who in 2008 was convicted on charges of luring or enticing underage girls and illegally possessing a firearm.
He was accused sexual misconduct against an underage patient and admitted to the board keeping child pornography, attempting to meet children online and continuing to see underage patients after an order to cease.
Grewal sought to block his reinstatement, arguing the board relied on an improperly conducted psychosexual evaluation, but the board on Thursday shot down the attorney general’s motion.
Bajakian remains on parole and must register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.
Several legislators are seeking to dissolve the current board and reconstitute it, a move that would dump all of the sitting members.
Sounds like Jersey’s politicians are right out the mafia. Do as I want or I’ll get rid of you. If the members of the board think a license should be reissued or revoked should be up to them, not the Mob boss.
I’m impressed the board members stuck with this decision, despite the criticism from the AG which has been public since at least November. Someone should send them flowers.