Attorney General Matt Platkin will leave office in less than four days, but South Jersey Democrats continue to target him and his legacy.
State Sen. John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro) sent a letter to Platkin, Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, and the media in which he detailed what he considers the failures of Platkin’s time as attorney general. Burzichelli particularly targeted the troubled Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, which has faced troubled prosecutions and allegations of misconduct in recent years.
“Your targeting of political opponents through the OPIA has lessened the public’s trust in government,” Burzichelli wrote.
Burzichelli also criticized Platkin’s focus on suing President Donald Trump, alleging he didn’t spend enough time on state issues.
“While standing up against Donald Trump’s abuses is important, your zeal for fighting against him has not been matched by a passion of fighting for New Jerseyans,” Burzichelli wrote. “A review of the Attorney General’s website makes it clear that chasing headlines about fighting the Trump Administration was a priority for you as you planned your post-Attorney General career.”
Outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy defended his appointment of Platkin during an exit interview with the New Jersey Globe. He particularly lauded Platkin’s work battling the president, calling the second Trump administration a “different animal than the first time around.”
“I think he’s done a particularly strong job in battling Washington,” Murphy said. “That has been literally a daily [task], either suing, joining the suit, leading a suit, joining a letter, joining an amicus. Whatever it might be, he’s been outstanding at that.”
In a statement to the New Jersey Globe, Platkin suggested Burzichelli did not truly author the letter.
“I am sure this letter was written entirely by Senator Burzichelli. I think we would solve the state’s affordability crisis if everyone could live rent-free in the Senator’s head, like apparently I do,” Platkin said. “I wish him well.”
The feud between Platkin and South Jersey Democrats reached a fever pitch after the indictment of Democratic power broker George Norcross on racketeering charges. The charges against Norcross and his allies were dismissed in February, but prosecutors have appealed to reinstate the charges. The appeal is now pending as Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s administration prepares to take over. Sherrill nominated Jennifer Davenport, a career prosecutor, for the role.
Residents of Montclair (Platkin’s hometown), Westfield, Princeton, and other towns have received flyers admonishing Platkin’s record as attorney general. Such glossy mailers are often reserved for campaigns, but Platkin isn’t running for anything.
In his letter, Burzichelli said Platkin’s record will come up as Sherrill’s administration takes the reins.
“Because your successor will be left to contend with the consequences of your record, it will certainly be a primary focus of the impending confirmation hearings for Attorney General-designee Jennifer Davenport,” he wrote.
In addition to the letter, Burzichelli introduced legislation that would require attorneys general to meet certain qualifications before being nominated. Under the bill, a prospective attorney general must be 30 years old, an American citizen for 20 years, a resident of New Jersey for at least seven years, and a licensed attorney in New Jersey for at least 10 years (and seven of those years must have been spent as a practicing attorney, judge, or law professor). At least one state constitutional scholar has questioned whether such legislation is constitutional.
Though Burzichelli’s bill sets the minimum age to 30, most attorneys wouldn’t be eligible until years later. Given that few 20-year-olds have earned a law degree and passed the bar, very few 30-year-olds have the 10 years of legal experience needed to pass muster under the bill. Most attorneys would not hit that 10-year law experience requirement until their mid-30s.
When initial news of Burzichelli’s bill appeared online, Platkin replied simply: “lol.”
“There clearly are substantial reforms needed in the Attorney General’s Office to recover the trust of all New Jerseyans,” Burzichelli said in his letter. “I and my colleagues in the Senate will work to ensure that it happens and your history of missteps becomes a legacy of change.”
