New Jersey AG charges Democratic power broker George Norcross in bombshell indictment
He has long been the subject of scrutiny by law enforcement and a political task force, but has never been charged.
TRENTON, New Jersey — New Jersey’s attorney general on Monday charged one of the state’s most powerful Democrats and his allies in a sweeping indictment alleging a long-running corruption scheme.
The charges against George Norcross represent another seismic event in New Jersey politics in a year that’s already seen a drastic disruption of its notorious boss systems. And George Norcross is often held up as the symbol of a New Jersey political boss. He has long been the subject of scrutiny by law enforcement and a political task force, but has never been charged.
The indictment, brought by Attorney General Matt Platkin, portrays years of extortion and threats. Norcross has run a criminal enterprise for at least the past 12 years, Platkin said, causing hurt to businesses, individuals and “especially — especially — to the city of Camden,” one of the state’s poorest cities.
“The Norcross enterprise manipulated government programs and processes designed to attract development and investment to instead suit their own financial desires,” Platkin said at a press conference. “Instead of contributing to the successes of the city of Camden, through a series of criminal acts alleged in the state’s case, the Norcross enterprise took the Camden waterfront all for themselves.”
The South Jersey power broker personally attended the press conference — uninvited — and sat in the front row closest to the podium, staring at Platkin as he announced the 13-count indictment on racketeering and other charges. His team of attorneys objected when a staffer for the attorney general’s office asked him to sit somewhere else and objected to attorneys not being able to ask questions during the press conference.
“I want to witness an extraordinary embarrassment and outrageous conduct from a government official who stands up there and tries to act like he’s holier than thou,” Norcross told reporters outside the Attorney General’s office.
Norcross criticized Platkin in intensely personal terms and said he wanted a trial to start in two weeks.
“I want Matt Platkin to come down here and try this case himself,” he said. “Because he’s a coward because he has forced people in this building to implement his will.”
The indictment is also an indictment of the state’s political culture. New Jersey has long had a reputation for corruption, and its senior senator, Bob Menendez, is midway through his second federal bribery trial.
“It’s often said that in New Jersey politics is a blood sport. And what’s meant by that is that if you don’t go along with the demands of those in political power, you’ll get hurt,” Platkin said.
“But there is nothing inherent In our state’s culture that requires us to accept politics and government that functions in this way,” Platkin added. “And as we so clearly [say] in this indictment, there’s nothing legal about it either.”
Norcross — whose brother Donald is a member of the House — has wielded tremendous influence in New Jersey politics for decades, all without holding elected office. He is an insurance broker by trade but built up what’s known as the South Jersey machine, a Democratic political coalition considered one of the strongest in the state. He was a member of the Democratic National Committee and counted figures like Nancy Pelosi among his friends.
At his peak, Norcross was known as the most powerful unelected official in New Jersey. His influence peaked under Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who worked hand in hand with Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney, a childhood friend of Norcross. But after losing legislative elections in his power base of South Jersey in 2021 — including the one held by Sweeney — Norcross conceded he’d been diminished and told POLITICO that he was stepping back from state politics.
Platkin also charged Norcross’ brother Philip, a lawyer and lobbyist; his longtime lawyer Bill Tambussi; former Camden Mayor Dana Redd; Sidney Brown, the CFO of trucking company NFI; and John O’Donnell, a leader of the residential development company The Michaels Organization.
The indictment came three days after Platkin charged two South Jersey Transportation Authority board members for allegedly retaliating against an engineering firm whose executive refused to go along with a political request from Norcross.
The charges against Norcross and others — referred by Platkin as the “Norcross enterprise” — include racketeering, misconduct and financial crimes and carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
The 111-page indictment details more than a decade of alleged criminality, much of it touching on tax credits and waterfront development extensively reported on in the news media.
In one example, Norcross allegedly threatened a developer who had waterfront property rights after he would not give up those rights on Norcross’ terms. Norcross told the developer that he would “f**k you up like you’ve never been f**ked up before,” according to the indictment, and make sure the developer never did business in Camden again. Others then conspired to have the city condemn the developer’s rights and plotted for city officials to publicly accuse the developer of being “not a reputable person,” according to the indictment.