Fulop says he’d keep Platkin as attorney general

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop wants to keep Matt Platkin as New Jersey’s attorney general if he wins the governor’s race this fall.

“I think that Matt Platkin has done a very, very good job in standing up for New Jersey,” Fulop said at a Sunday morning gathering at the Triumph Brewery in Red Bank.  “I would give Matt Platkin the opportunity to stay on as the attorney general if I get elected.”

While Fulop didn’t mention the indictment of political powerbroker George E. Norcross III, he appeared to signal that he wanted Platkin to see the trial to completion.

“I think that’s a very, very important thing to continue some of the work that he did (and) to finish the prosecutions that he started as it relates to the political process,” Fulop said.  “I think those are important to do.”

Republican Jack Ciattarelli used Fulop’s statement to take a shot at one of his primary rivals, State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield).  Bramnick voted to confirm Platkin.

“The irony here is that if Matt Platkin were elected Governor, he’d probably pick Jon Bramnick as his AG,” Ciattarelli said on social media.

Fulop would have two options if he becomes governor: keep Platkin on as acting attorney general after the attorney general’s current term expires and/or nominate him for another four-year term, which would require Senate confirmation.

Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Platkin as attorney general for his second term; he had served as Murphy’s chief counsel during his first term.  The New Jersey Attorney General is appointed for a term that ends when the governor’s term expires and is one of two cabinet members – the Secretary of State is the other – that can’t be fired.