Norcross' indictment sounds an alarm for NJ politics

By: Mike Kelly columnist
USA Today Network

..... The 13-count criminal indictment of George Norcross, the well-connected power broker who controlled political puppet strings across South Jersey, isn't just a mater of law.
..... This is about a lifestyle that is far too common in New Jersey.
..... Like plenty of honchos before him - and, sadly, plenty more probably in the future - Norcross created a world that blended politics and business. he is now charged with suing his political connections to enrich his businesses. And those business, in turn, reportedly bolstered hos political standing.
..... Given such a history, is anyone shocked that Norcross, 68, and a resident of Palm Beach, Florida, was a member of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club where politics and business - and an occasional top-secret document - were part of the ambiance?
..... Only now, the state of New Jersey thinks it has finally caught up with Norcross. An indictment this week [06/18/2024] from New Jersey Attorney General Mathew Platkin also names five other associates, indulging the former mayor of Camden, New Jersey, Dana Redd; Norcross's brother Philip; and Norcross's long-time persona attorney and the former legal counsel to the Camden County Democratic machine, William Tanbussi.
..... In a stunning wide-ranging indictment, Norcross was depicted as akin to a slick, well-tailored crime boss. In announcing the indictment on Monday, [06/17/2024] Platkin even went so far as to label Norcross's political-business spider web a "criminal enterprise."
..... But the criminal lifestyle depicted in the indictment does not fit the easy narrative of organized lawbreaking that we generally associate with such films as "The Godfather" and "GoodFellas." There are no guns, no "button men" whose speaking style tends to substitute dems" and "does" for pronouns.
..... The alleged scheme run by Norcross has tis now unique narrative. As Platkin noted in describing the case, this was basically "a group of unelected, private businessmen [who] used their power and influence to get government to aid their criminal enterprise and further its interests."
..... The indictment even named the scheme the "Norcross Enterprise" and offered evidence that it continued virtually unchecked for 12 years, starting in 2012.
..... That time frame is important. It encompasses the gubernatorial administrations of Republican former Governor Chris Christie and now into the second, four-year term of Governor Phil Murphy,a Democrat.
..... Both Christie and Murphy initially tried to avoid dealing with Norcross - and why not? Democrats and Republicans alike have long viewed the silver-haired Norcross as a pompous, self-centered manipulator who was hardly shy about announcing that he would only support a piece of state legislation or a candidate if he concluded that he would benefit from it.
..... Eventually, Christie and Murphy swallowed their pride and played along with Norcross, mostly looking the other way. so did the New Jersey Democratic Party, which needed Norcross desperately to drum up votes in south Jersey to win state-wide elections. On Wednesday, [06/19/2024] two days after the indictments and as an indication of how Democrats walk a strange path when it comes to Norcross, Murphy finally offered only tepid support for Platkin's investigation. What's significant is that Murphy did not ask the important questions: why in the world are Democrats involved with Norcross.
..... Yes, Norcross called himself a Democrat, but few in the party ever bothered to wonder why Norcross never seemed to have any real views on the important social issues of the last few decades. It was as if Norcross managed to avoid getting bloodied in America's culture war political battles over abortion, guns, climate change and immigration.
.... In a way, he was a perfect political cipher, blending business and politics - and profits, but never seeming to take a day. He left the heavy-lifting of those divisive issues to others. He actually could have been a Republican. Maybe he should have. Nobody would have noticed the difference.
..... Once, in a conversation with me, I interested in a U.S. senatorial primary. Norcross's answer speaks volumes about how he viewed his role as a Democratic party leader.
..... "I don't care about the U.S. Senate," he said bluntly, adding, with a drew of honesty that offers a window into his self-confident approach to politics and business, that he was more concerned with how the state legislature and governor might affect his own business interests in Camden.
..... Who knows how the alleged "Norcross Enterprise" enriched George Norcross. but clearly, Matthew Platkin has staked his reputation and his future career on putting an end to it.
..... "That stops today," [06/17/2024] said Platkin, a Democrat who was once a close legal advisor to Murphy but whose independence has opened a deep a rift with the governor and his circle of pals.
..... Keep in mind that it was Platkin who broke from Murphy earlier this year [2024] and urged a federal judge to reject the practice of allowing the county bosses of political parties to grant prime ballot spots to favored candidates in primary elections. This year, [2024] Murphy lobbied extensively with Democratic county bosses for a top ballot spot for his wife, Tammy, in the primary election for U.S. Senatorial candidates to replace incumbent Bob Menendez who is currently on trial on corruption charges.
..... Tammy Murphy turned out to be a poor campaigner and withdrew on her own, leaving the field open for Representative Andy Kim who is considered a front-runner to win the seat in November's [2024] election. But Platkin's efforts to help derail the so-called "county line" on primary ballots left a bitter aftertaste with Murphy and old-line Democrats.
..... Now comes the Norcross indictment - and what will surely be a spotlight on the long trading of New Jersey political figures enriching their businesses with government contracts.
..... "We must never accept politics and government - that is funded with tax dollars - to be weaponized against the people it serves," Platkin said. "Today [06/17/2024] we reaffirm that no one in our state is above the law - period."
..... those are inspiring words. And it's worth noting they were spoken by Platkin on June 17, [2024] which just happens to be the 52nd anniversary of the arrests of the Watergate burglars and the start of what would turn out to be the most consequential political scandal in U.S. history.
..... It remains to be seen if Platkin's effort to "stop" the so-called "Norcross Enterprise" will go down in New Jersey history as a turning point in how politics is conducted.
..... Nearly two decades ago, the same questions were raised about the Bergen County Democratic chief Joe Ferriero's habit pf enriching himself with government contracts. Ferriero eventually served time in federal prison. But before that, he was hardly denying that he routinely used his political connections to enrich himself and hos law firm. In a strange way, Ferriero was playing the same role as George Norcross - but on much smaller landscape.
..... Asked by me - naively - whether this practice might be unethical, Ferriero shot back: "would you deny me the chance to make a living?"
..... Don't be shocked if George Norcross says something like that in his defense. He'll likely explain how he has helped to rebuild parts of Camden - and that's true. But now those business ventures will go on trial. For his part, Norcross and several pals showed up unannounced at Platkin's press conference on Monday [06/17/2024] as the indictment was announced. Consider that moment the equivalent of a school-boy stare down. It belongs on a grade school playground.
..... Yes, this is about alleged crimes. But it's also about a lifestyle that is considered a rite of passage for many New Jersey political figures - and probably many others across America. Norcross just happens to be the target now.
..... He's not the first.
..... He probably won't be the last.

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