New Jersey’s most powerful unelected politico has won round one of his battle with the Attorney General’s Office.
On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw dismissed the 112-page racketeering indictment facing George E. Norcross and multiple additional defendants ex-Camden Mayor Dana Redd, longtime Norcross attorney and ally William Tambussi, and Norcross’ brother and an attorney, Philip.
Norcross stood accused of being at the head of a criminal enterprise responsible for diverting tax breaks intended for economic development in the City of Camden, the ancestral home of the machine which Norcross leads.
But in his own 96-page decision, the judge ruled that the “factual allegations do not constitute extortion or criminal coercion as a matter of law” and, going a step further, concluded that “there was no racketeering enterprise.” Morever, Judge Warshaw ruled that former Mayor Redd “did not commit any act of official misconduct.”
“It follows that if the facts alleged do not, as a matter of law, constitute a crime, the indictment is manifestly deficient and facially and palpably defective,” Warshaw continued. “The indictment must be dismissed because its factual allegations do not constitute extortion or criminal coercion as a matter of law.”
Attorney General Matt Platkin subsequently issued his own statement pledging to appeal the ruling.
“We disagree strongly with the trial court’s decision, and we are appealing immediately,” said Platkin . “After years in which the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently cut back on federal public corruption law, and at a time in which the federal government is refusing to tackle corruption, it has never been more important for state officials to take corruption head on.”
