Articles of Impeachment Drawn up for New Jersey’s Anti-Gun AG

The number of stories that New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin graces within the pages of Bearing Arms are countless. Platkin is not being reported on because he’s being celebrated either. While Platkin serves at the pleasure of the governor, Phil Murphy, D-N.J., he is responsible for his and his office’s actions. It’s been reported by N.J. Assembly Republicans that articles of impeachment have been drawn against Platkin.

New Jersey’s top cop, Attorney General Matthew Platkin, is facing impeachment for failing to perform the duties of his office and overstepping his authority, according to a resolution introduced Thursday by Assembly Republican Leaders John DiMaio, Antwan McClellan and Christopher DePhillips. 

“Platkin has undermined people’s trust in our police and the office of the Attorney General. We’re starting the impeachment process to balance the scales of justice,” Assembly Republican Leader DiMaio (R-Warren) said. “He is not above the law.” 

The resolution (AR179) outlines how Platkin has weaponized his position by directing the Division of Criminal Justice and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability to conduct investigations that ultimately hurt the work of the state police. One example was an external report analyzing traffic stops that he commissioned. 

The Republicans assert Platkin’s actions, including filing lawsuits and issuing statements on behalf of the state, amount to “lawfare,” the use of legal systems to damage or delegitimize an opponent.

“Governor Murphy’s AG has been pursuing high-profile cases to capture headlines, not criminals. It is evident his investigations lack merit by the number of charges that are ultimately dismissed by the courts,” said Assemblyman McClellan (R-Cape May).

One of the biggest things that’s been reported on here at Bearing Arms is Platkin ignoring the use of improper and illegal standards in the state’s permit to carry application process. Through data obtained via Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s own permit to carry dashboard, several rights violations have been discovered and Platkin’s office was made aware of them through requests for comment.

The first infringement that was uncovered was in the denials of permits to carry. It was found that more than the majority of denials were under a subjective standard – one without a criminal disqualifier attached. NYSRPA v. Bruen clearly stated that permitting standards had to be narrow and objective – not subjective. When Platkin and his office were asked for comment, they said, “Thanks for your email. The office declines to comment.”

It was observed that jurisdictions were imposing exceedingly long wait times in granting or denying permits to carry. The law – which is unenforceable due to technical clauses written into it – gives permitting officials 90 days to make a determination on permit applications.

Through additional information obtained by Open Public Record Act requests, iIt was found that many post-Bruen wait times were excessive. 3,301 permit applications exceeded the statutory 120 days, representing about 10% of applications. One application was caused to wait 505 days, one waited 497 days, and 28 applications waited between 400 and 500 days.

It was further uncovered that there seems to be racial bias within the permitting system. Data obtained showed that Black applicants were denied more than double – further to be confirmed at 10 times – white applicants. The denials were under the illegal subjective standard. When asked for comment, Platkin’s office stated, “The office declines to comment.”

Platkin finding himself situated as such comes with the N.J. GOP saying that Platkin “acted unlawfully by taking over the Paterson Police Department, failed to uphold state statutes in court, and mishandled legal responses to the pandemic and a rape accusation involving Gov. Murphy’s campaign staffers.” They further allege that, “He targeted pro-life pregnancy centers because of his alliance with Planned Parenthood.”

It’s not likely that there’s any teeth to these articles being drawn. If anything, this may embolden the state’s top cop, as it’s alleged that he’s eyeing higher office in the future. Platkin staying in the political arena, as his critics might allege, would be bad for New Jersey. However, it sure would give pundits plenty to cover, as there seems to be no slowing of newsworthy events surrounding him.