In layman’s terms: Republicans file articles of impeachment against New Jersey Attorney General, Matthew Platkin, for abusing the office and undermining the people’s trust.
Republicans in New Jersey seem to have begun the process of finding their collective spine. On Thursday, February 27, New Jersey GOP leaders filed articles of impeachment against Attorney General, Matthew Platkin, following years of public outcry over the perceived oversteps of the office in nearly every area of public life.
“Platkin has undermined people’s trust in our police and the office of the Attorney General. We’re starting the impeachment process to balance the scales of justice,” John DiMaio, the Republican Assembly leader, said in a release. “He is not above the law.”
A large portion of the complaint focuses on Platkin’s role in overseeing the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), which is responsible for investigating corruption and police misconduct. The complaint asserts, “Matthew Platkin has repeatedly demonstrated his inability to perform his duties as Attorney General and has violated the public trust…”
Unsurprisingly, the complaint points out that Platkin’s office may even have manufactured racial issues when decades of State Police data and reform suggested otherwise, including acting on “…study claims that the State Police continue to engage in targeted traffic stops of minorities.”
The complaint also points out that 28 percent of cases referred to the Division of Criminal Justice or OPIA for legal review involving State Trooper disciplinary and criminal matters are unresolved, violating Troopers’ due process rights.
Another area of focus in the impeachment articles is a lawsuit Platkin brought against political opponents, which has all the makings of a TV-style mob enforcement action:
…a plot that used power over government officials in order to craft legislation that would aid them in obtaining property and property rights along the Camden waterfront “through coercion, extortion, and other criminal acts”
The complaint summarizes, “As a result of his own political ambition, Matthew Platkin has used the Office of the Attorney General to target individuals he disagrees with politically, which has done professional and financial damage to these individuals and their families and has caused further damage to the reputation of the office…”
Read this article about AG Platkin suing two small businesses in NJ for completely legal conduct.
Readers of this site will be aware of the numerous lawsuits against New Jersey challenging what are likely Constitutional laws related to firearms possession and carry restrictions. All of which are fought by the state with taxpayer money. The complaint acknowledges the fiscal irresponsibility of Platkin’s office:
Additionally, this case has forced New Jersey taxpayers to be responsible for paying for the cost of the office’s incompetence, and taxpayers deserve leadership without bias…
The complaint also notes Platkin’s illegal takeover of the entire Paterson Police Department in March of 2023, without the consent of city officials. In December of last year, an appeals court ruled that Platkin lacked the authority for the takeover, which was publicly backed by Governor Phil Murphy.
Platkin has notoriously taken a publicly pro-abortion stance that may have violated both the role of the office and the civil liberties of many private citizens. The complaint notes, “Matthew Platkin targeted pro-life pregnancy centers due to the organization’s religious speech and pro-life views by issuing an overbroad subpoena to one of these centers. As reported, he aligned himself with Planned Parenthood’s pro-abortion mission and enlisted its help to target pro-life pregnancy centers…”
The editor of News2A reached out to the office of the Attorney General asking for comment. They responded with the following statement:
I am not going to respond to partisan political attacks. I am focused on the same priorities I have had since day one: driving gun violence down to historically low levels, holding social media corporations accountable for the harms they’re inflicting on our children, and protecting our residents — including by standing up to threats from Washington and fighting corruption, no matter who it offends.
It should be noted in regard to his response which mentions “gun violence” that New Jersey has issued over 60,000 Permits to Carry a concealed firearm since the Bruen Supreme Court decision in 2022.
This story is developing and we will continue to follow it.
The FEDERATION HEADQUARTERS IN NEW JERSEY WILL ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS SEVERE ILLMORAL, UNGODLY, UNETHICAL,SINFUL, DELUSIONAL,RACIST, BIASED, AGAINST GODS LAWS OF NATURE, HOMOSEXUALLY,LOBBYING,CORRUPTED STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL,WHO SHOULD BE DISBARRED, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY THUS SAITH THE LORD NOT DEMOCRATIC LGBTQ LOBBYING RACIST DEMONS!