Platkin takes office as acting attorney general

Matt Platkin was sworn in today as the acting attorney general of New Jersey, assuming the legal authority of the post as he awaits Senate confirmation.

Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Platkin on February 3.

“It is an honor to begin my new role as Acting Attorney General today,” he said on Twitter.   “I am humbled beyond measure for the opportunity from (Governor Murphy) to serve my home state and its great residents.”

He replaces Andrew Bruck, who held the post since July when Gurbir Grewal resigned to take a staff job at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

There are only two real differences between an acting attorney general and a permanent one: Platkin will not be in the line of gubernatorial succession — lieutenant governor, senate president, and assembly speaker precede the attorney general, who is followed by the state transportation commissioner — and until the Senate confirms him, Murphy can fire him.

Platkin’s first public announcement came this morning when he announced that the state had reached a $100 million settlement with BlockFi Lending, a financial services company based in Jersey City, over the sale of interest-bearing digital asset deposit accounts.

“Cryptocurrency-related investments may offer investors something new, but they must still follow the rules,” Platkin stated. “Today’s action shows that companies providing digital asset financial products and services must comply with state and federal law, and demonstrates New Jersey’s commitment to protecting investors in these new markets.

According to Shlomo Schoor of the Lakewood Shopper, Platkin was sworn in using morning with Art Scroll English Tanach.