Assembly Republicans file impeachment charges against Platkin

Republican leaders in the Assembly filed articles of impeachment against Attorney General Matt Platkin on Thursday, according to a release.

The Republicans accused Platkin of misusing the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, an office responsible for investigating corruption and police misconduct, to stifle the work of state police and target political opponents. The legislators accused the attorney general of conducting investigations to undermine the effectiveness of the State Police and damage their reputation with the public.

“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.”

The attorney general reacted to the impeachment charges in a statement Thursday afternoon, saying he will not respond to the “political attacks” and instead stay focused on his work.

“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,” Platkin said in the emailed statement.

The resolution specifically cites an independent study of State Police traffic stops commissioned by the OPIA.

“Despite data demonstrating compliance with legal obligations by the State Police, the study claims that the State Police continue to engage in targeted traffic stops of minorities,” the resolution reads. “The decision by OPIA to accept the results of the study rather than rely on decades of data and analysis created by the Office of the Attorney General’s own internal oversight unjustifiably discredits the State Police, erodes public confidence in the State Police, and violates the public trust.”

The impeachment effort comes a day after a state judge dismissed racketeering charges against South Jersey power broker George Norcross and several others. The attorney general promised to appeal the dismissal, but Norcross’ attorneys accused Platkin of conducting politically motivated prosecutions and called for his resignation.

“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,” the GOP resolution reads.

The Republicans also criticized Platkin’s takeover of the Paterson Police Department. The attorney general took charge of the police department in March 2023 after the fatal police shooting of an anti-violence advocate, but an appeals court ruled in December that Platkin overstepped his authority in taking control. The attorney general’s office maintains control of the police department as the case makes its way through further appeals.

“The actions and inactions of Attorney General Matthew Platkin are incompatible with the responsibilities and duties owed to the public by the Attorney General,” the articles of impeachment read.

Assemblymen Antwan McClellan (R-Ocean City) and Christopher DePhillips (R-Wyckoff) co-introduced the resolution with DiMaio.

Platkin has faced bipartisan scrutiny. State Sen. Joe Cryan (D-Union) introduced a bill to establish an independent oversight office for state prosecutors. State Sen. Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) has co-sponsored the bill.

New Jersey’s impeachment process is similar to the federal process. If a majority of Assembly members vote to impeach a cabinet member, the state Senate will hold a trial. The cabinet member would be removed if two-thirds of senators vote to convict.

This is a developing story and will be updated.