George Norcross threatens lawsuit over New Jersey racketeering case, seeks reporters’ records

South Jersey political boss George Norcross is threatening to sue New Jersey law enforcement leaders who fingered him and key associates in a criminal racketeering case that was thrown out of court earlier this year.

In an Oct. 7 “litigation hold” letter, Norcross attorney Joseph Podraza of the Lamb McErlane firm in Philadelphia writes that tort claim notices have been filed—the written notification required before filing a lawsuit against a public entity or employee—over the “unfounded allegations and charges” against the party leader and his associates.

A damage suit, if filed, would be the latest in a series of efforts by Norcross and his allies to attack and discredit Attorney General Matthew Platkin, his investigators, and other state officials who have alleged wrongdoing connected to the party leader or his Camden-based insurance brokerage.

This time, Norcross is seeking the records of journalists who published stories that raised questions about how the Democrat and his political allies benefited from a state tax break program they helped author.

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The letter sent by Podraza singles out two journalists — this writer and former WNYC reporter Nancy Solomon.

The pair, while working in 2019 for the New York-based investigative news outlet ProPublica, documented how Norcross and his allies, including his brother, lawyer-lobbyist Philip Norcross, amassed properties and development rights on Camden’s Delaware River waterfront.

The 111-page racketeering indictment against Norcross and his associates, including former Camden Mayor Dana Redd, claimed the cabal strong-armed rival businessmen and nonprofits out of their legitimate property rights on the waterfront to capitalize on the lucrative tax breaks carved out for the city.

Norcross and two partners used $245 million in state tax breaks to build an 18-story office tower for their businesses on the river. Norcross also used the tax break money to partner in a new waterfront hotel.

Norcross is now seeking all audio recordings, interview notes, text messages, social media messages and posts, videotapes, spteadsheets, databases, telephone logs, Internet usage files, and records of any electronic correspondence between the reporters and a range of individuals who were connected to Platkin’s investigation or took part in the Camden development.

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All told, the letter from Norcross’ attorney names some four dozen people, from Attorney General’s Office investigators and former members of Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive staff, such as ex-senior aide Dan Bryan, to outside political advisers such as Brad Lawrence and Steve DeMicco, founders of the New Brunswick communications firm Message & Media Inc.

Norcross is also demanding records of any communication with prominent figures from his own circle, including Susan Bass Levin, president and CEO of Cooper University Health System’s Cooper Foundation in Camden, the hospital network chaired by the party leader. He also seeks records from several individuals who emerged as unnamed witnesses in the indictment, including Anthony Perno, the former head of a Camden nonprofit allegedly muscled aside by the Norcross network.

Perno and the others would figure prominently in any corruption trial if Platkin’s request to reinstate the racketeering charges is granted by a state appeals court. Oral arguments on the appeal are scheduled for Nov. 5.

Media lawyers say that any effort to force reporters to disclose notes or sources or information is likely to fail. New Jersey law affords journalists and other news media employees strong protections against such disclosure in the form of the state “shield law.”

The law “provides the news media far-reaching protections that are equaled by few states in the nation,” according to a history of the law compiled by the nonprofit Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

The shield created an absolute privilege against compelled disclosure in civil cases and a qualified privilege in criminal cases, according to the orrganization. Journalists in New Jersey who have been pressured to disclose information have prevailed and have been awarded attorney fees, lawyers point out.

“There’s no doubt about it, it’s the best shield law in the country,” said Bruce Rosen, a prominent First Amendment lawyer with the Pashman Stein firm in Hackensack. “I can’t see a situation where a reporter has to give up sources in any civil damage case.”

Platkin’s office declined to comment on a possible damage suit.

Norcross has enjoyed steady support in his campaign against the hard-charging Platkin from political allies who have benefited from the party leader’s influence in Trenton and beyond.

Former Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican and former U.S. attorney known for prosecuting political corruption, at one point called Platkin’s racketeering case “garbage.”

Earlier this week, speaking at a New Jersey Business and Industry Association forum, Christie upped his criticism.

“I don’t think there’s been a person more deceitful and more destructive to state government in my lifetime here than the current attorney general. He is a disgrace to law enforcement,” he said. “As someone who did it for seven years myself, I’m embarrassed.”

The following day, Platkin responded to the criticism, saying: “I wish the former governor well in the twilight of his career.”

Another Norcross ally, longtime New Jersey NAACP President Richard Smith, sent an amicus brief to the Superior Court arguing that Platkin’s case be dismissed. The move raised the hackles of Camden progressives, including members of the African American community, who have sought to end the party boss system developed by Norcross.

In August, Smith, who serves on the Cooper University Health Care Board of Trustees with Norcross, took things a step further, calling for the abolishment of the state Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. The office, overseen by Platkin, led the investigation of Norcross and his associates. Smith joined a letter signed by several lawmakers and other Norcross allies claiming the “scandal-plagued” office was wasting millions while using illegal tactics to harass innocent defendants.

Norcross’ public defense campaign has also been taken up by prominent Democrats such as Donald Scarinci, a Hudson County attorney who has represented politicians, including the disgraced Robert Menendez. The former U.S. senator from Union City is serving an 11-year prison sentence after he was caught accepting gold bars and other bribes from foreign agents.

Earlier this year, Scarinci also attacked State Comptroller Kevin Walsh for pursuing an investigation that documented how insurance brokerages owned by George Norcross under the banner of Conner Strong & Buckelew benefited from public insurance funds the party boss has managed for more than 15 years—a claim Norcross denies.

“Much like the Norcross criminal indictment, the [Comptroller] report appears politically motivated and legally unsupported,” Scarinci wrote in a Sept. 27 column published in The New Jersey Globe.

Scarinci described Platkin’s case against Norcross as “lawfare” and defended the hardball politics and dealmaking the party leader is known for. “There is a very important difference between violating the law and taking advantage of business opportunities,” he wrote.

Editor’s note: The story listed the date for the oral arguments on the appeal as Nov. 6. The date is Nov. 5. The story has been updated to reflect the correct date. The original story also omitted that Susan Bass Levin is president and CEO of Cooper’s foundation.