Attorneys for Norcross, allies call on attorney general to step down

by Nikita Biryukov, New Jersey Monitor
February 26, 2025

Attorneys for South Jersey power broker George Norcross and others charged in a now-dismissed racketeering indictment called Wednesday for Attorney General Matt Platkin to step down.

“I think it’s time for us to get someone who can serve as an attorney general who is not a politician masquerading as a law enforcement officer, because when you look at what Mr. Platkin has done during the term as attorney general, all he’s trying to do is set the footing for a political career,” said attorney Michael Critchley, who represents Norcross.

Platkin is not seeking elected office, and Critchley did not say why he believes Platkin is doing so.

Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw on Wednesday dismissed racketeering and other charges against Norcross; his brother, Philip Norcross; NFI CEO Sidney Brown; Michaels Organization CEO John O’Donnell; attorney Bill Tambussi; and former Camden Mayor Dana Redd.

In his 100-page ruling, the judge found the indictment lodged against the six defendants failed to state the elements of a crime and, as a purely legal matter, must be dismissed.

The defendants’ motion to dismiss the indictment was filed at a very early stage of the case, and court rules for such motions require allegations in the indictment be considered true without an examination of some evidence presented to the grand jury.

“Even if they could prove every single word of the indictment and prove every inference, every reasonable, rational inference to be drawn from those words, these things don’t add up to a crime,” said Kevin Marino, who represents Philip Norcross.

Platkin has already appealed the dismissal and, in a statement, said it risked weakening trust in the criminal justice system. 

“This decision was not simply wrong, but without precedent: No one has identified a single case in which a judge granted a motion to dismiss like this one, without even reviewing the months of evidence on which the grand jury relied,” the attorney general said. “If allowed to stand, this decision would send a message to every resident of our State that there are two systems of criminal justice — one for the absolute most wealthy and well-connected few, and one for everyone else.”

Critchley did not rule out civil action for wrongful prosecution against the Office of Public Integrity, the prosecutorial unit that handles corruption cases.

“Everything’s on the table,” he said.

Platkin said “baseless threats by defense counsel merit no response.”

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