New Jersey Attorney General’s office drops corruption case against Dem power broker George Norcross

One of the most significant public corruption cases in recent New Jersey history officially came to a close Tuesday when the New Jersey Attorney General’s office said it would no longer pursue criminal conspiracy charges against South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross.

Sharon Lauchaire, a spokeswoman for the office, said the state has decided against appealing its failed prosecution against Norcross and five co-defendants to the state Supreme Court.

“We have concluded that our prosecutorial resources would be best spent on other matters,” Lauchaire said. She cited a recent appellate court opinion that upheld a lower court decision to throw out the case before a trial even began.

The appellate ruling stressed that the state failed to make timely and legally cogent arguments that Norcross and his alleged conspirators had broken laws in engineering a massive waterfront development on the Delaware River in Camden.

Former Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who brought the case in May 2024, claimed that Norcross and his associates had strong-armed rivals in a race to redevelop the waterfront by using generous state tax breaks that provided $1.6 billion in awards to the city.

The Norcross camp and a co-defendant released statements following Tuesday’s announcement. A Norcross spokesman also signaled that the party leader would continue to press for an investigation and legal action against Platkin for bringing the case.

“We always knew that Matt Platkin brought this case for reasons other than its legal merits — and now multiple judges and Platkin’s successor as AG agree the allegations simply weren’t true,” said Norcross spokesman Dan Fee.

“The question now is whether Platkin’s supporters who cheered him on will take a serious look at what he did and whether other authorities will do the same,” he added. “We will certainly be making the case that he and anyone else who used lawfare against George should be held to account, no differently than Pam Bondi and her DOJ should.”

Sidney Brown, a Norcross business associate who was also a defendant, hailed the decision to end the 19-month-old case.

“The State of New Jersey finally made the right decision today because I am, and always have been, innocent of these baseless charges,” Brown, CEO and co-owner of NFI Industries, said in a statement. “Since its inception, this case was unfounded and attacked those of us who believed in the future of a thriving Camden. I want to thank the courts and the new administration for ensuring that justice was carried out based on the facts.”

Norcross is expected to file a civil lawsuit against state officials for malicious prosecution after a state appellate court upheld the dismissal of his indictment.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey Globe reported that Norcross was planning a $100 million malicious prosecution against Platkin and other possible defendants. The news outlet said Norcross attorney Michael Critchley filed a tort claim notice in May alerting the state that it could face legal action.

Platkin’s four-year tenure as attorney general was marked by aggressive prosecutions spearheaded by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. The team of career prosecutors and investigators successfully brought dozens of corruption cases, often focusing on police misconduct.

The office also drew criticism that it had been weaponized for political use and had mishandled evidence, among other allegations.

In May 2024, Platkin stunned New Jersey by bringing a multi-count racketeering case against Norcross and some of his associates, including his brother, attorney Philip Norcross, and Dana Redd, the former mayor of Camden. The group was charged with intimidating nonprofits and developers who held property rights in Camden and were competing to take part in the city’s building boom.

But Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw dismissed the charges, saying that the tactics of the Norcross group were essentially the rough-and-tumble of everyday politics and business competition.

Using some $245 million in tax breaks, Norcross and two business partners built a landmark office tower on the river with commanding views of Philadelphia. The office tower and nearby building projects have transformed the dilapidated waterfront.

Norcross, a Pennsauken native who has been a major Democratic fundraiser and party leader for three decades, is an insurance broker whose companies have received millions in public contracts. Critics say he wields outsized influence through his long association with county and state policymakers. But supporters point to the success of community ventures such as the Cooper University Health Care hospital system, which he has led as board chairman.

Jennifer Davenport was selected to serve as the attorney general under new Gov. Mikie Sherill. Davenport has worked in both the Attorney General’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s office in addition to serving as the chief litigation counsel for PSE&G.

Lauchaire said the New Jersey Attorney General’s office, under Davenport, will continue to pursue any public officials who are criminals.

“Our office remains committed to prioritizing public corruption prosecutions in this time of deepening mistrust in government,” she said. “Wrongdoing by public officials undermines faith in our institutions, and the public rightfully demands and deserves that officials perform their duties with integrity and in accordance with the law.”