Bill To Ban Saudi-Backed Golf Event At NJ Clubs Proposed By Lawmakers

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - Two NJ lawmakers have introduced a proposal that looks to ban clubs from hosting the controversial LIV Golf Tournament. Former President Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster hosted the tournament in July.

Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex, Mercer, Somerset, Hunterdon) and Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex/Morris) introduced a bill that will prohibit sports organizations operated primarily with money from sovereign wealth funds from hosting sporting or athletic events in New Jersey. This includes LIV, the professional golf tour.

According to the lawmakers, the LIV tournament is backed by the “Public Investment Fund” (PIF) - Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

LIV professional golf circuit has so far held three tournaments around the country, including one recently at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. The bill would prohibit any future LIV events from being held in New Jersey.

Introducing the bill on Tuesday, South Brunswick's Zwicker pointed out that American intelligence officials have linked the Saudi crown prince to the murder of The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“New Jersey has long been fertile ground for producing top-quality athletes, and for hosting major sporting events known throughout the world. Yet we do not need further recognition or notoriety from hosting competitions that are bankrolled by repressive governments or unsavory actors like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” Zwicker said.

“This legislation will prohibit the Saudi PIF or any other sovereign wealth fund from using New Jersey or its sporting organizations in any shameful ‘sports-washing’ endeavors.”

Last month, survivors and families of 9/11 protested the Saudi-backed LIV tournament in New Jersey. According to FBI documents declassified under President Joe Biden, the 9/11 hijackers received support from Saudi nationals leading to the terrorist attack. More: 9/11 Survivors To Protest Saudi-Backed Golf Event At Trump's NJ Club

“No one would have believed that after that terrible day that we would be allowing foreign governments to hold events in New Jersey in an attempt to clean up their image after centuries of human rights abuses and connections to terrorists,” Codey said.

Under the bill, the Attorney General will have the authority to monitor and ensure a county, municipality, political subdivision, organization, property owner, and license holders comply with the ban.

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