Republican leaders in the New Jersey Assembly have filed articles of impeachment against Attorney General Matt Platkin, accusing him of weaponizing the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) to target political opponents, undermine state police, and conduct politically motivated prosecutions.
The resolution, introduced Thursday, alleges that Platkin’s misuse of power has eroded public trust in law enforcement and the justice system. Leading the charge, Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio declared, “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. He is not above the law.”
Among reasons for removal cited in the impeachment filing is Platkin’s role in the eight-year prosecution against Rabbi Osher Eisemann, the founder of the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence (SCHI), a Lakewood-based special education institution. Prosecutors at the OPIA relentlessly pursued Eisemann, despite evidence suggesting their case was deeply flawed.
Critics have long argued that Eisemann was unfairly targeted in a politically motivated prosecution—a claim echoed in the impeachment resolution. The AG’s office relentlessly pursued the case, despite multiple legal setbacks, drawing comparisons to other controversial and failed high-profile prosecutions under Platkin’s leadership.
The impeachment resolution accuses Platkin of using the OPIA to discredit and interfere with the New Jersey State Police, pointing to a controversial traffic stop study that, despite showing compliance with legal obligations, was weaponized to paint law enforcement as discriminatory.
The effort to remove Platkin comes just a day after a judge dismissed racketeering charges against South Jersey power broker George Norcross, a case that has also been described as politically motivated. Norcross’ legal team has called for Platkin’s immediate resignation, further fueling Republican claims that the attorney general has used his office to settle political scores.
Platkin’s takeover of the Paterson Police Department is also a focal point of the impeachment push. After the fatal police shooting of an anti-violence advocate in 2023, Platkin unilaterally seized control of the department, a move an appeals court later ruled as illegal. Despite this, Platkin has refused to relinquish control as legal appeals continue.
While Platkin’s actions have drawn bipartisan criticism, with Democratic lawmakers Sen. Joe Cryan and Sen. Gordon Johnson pushing for independent oversight of state prosecutors, the Republican-led impeachment effort is expected to face an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled legislature.
Under New Jersey’s impeachment process, a simple majority in the Assembly is required to pass articles of impeachment, after which the state Senate would hold a trial. Platkin would be removed from office only if two-thirds of the Senate votes to convict.
As of now, the attorney general’s office has not responded to requests for comment. However, with growing bipartisan unease over Platkin’s conduct, this impeachment effort could signal a broader reckoning for the state’s top law enforcement officer.
