One of the candidates for the Governor of New Jersey fiercely supports the democratic energy broker George Norcross after the judge rejected the racketeering case against him. Nine other candidates contacted by Inquirer had a number of reactions, from questioning the decision to completely avoid the topic.
Prosecutors accused Norcross of an attempt to obtain quay real estate in Camden and millions of dollars of tax relief with intimidation and threats. In a 100-page opinion on Wednesday, The Supreme Court judge Mercer, Peter Warshaw, admitted Norcross’s request to dismiss 13 times the accusation that comes from the great jury in June.
Democrat Steve Sweeney, former president of the Senate in New Jersey and a longtime friend of Norcross, took the fiery attitude only a few hours after the decision after avoiding commenting on the case for months.
“Today’s decision is even more proof that political proceedings do not take place in New Jersey or in our nation,” said Sweeney in a statement. “By rejecting this matter, the judge explained that these innocent people, including George Norcross and Dana Redd, should never be accused.”
Sweeney, the leader of South Jersey Union, was dismissed in the indictment, but was not accused of offenses.
If Sweeney felt in this way before the case was rejected, he did not know that he talked to reporters after a democratic debate at the beginning of this month.
“George Norcross will stand before the judge and jury, and whatever happens,” he told journalists at a time when the indictment was asked. “I’m not George Norcross. I’m Steve Sweeney. “
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Norcross and Sweeney were childhood friends, and the millionaire Mildobroker supported Sweeney’s political efforts and helped him get a breakthrough over the years. After Sweeney lost the re -election with the bottom -up republican Edem Durr after he organized the longest term as president of the State Senate, Norcross said that he still hopes that Sweeney will apply for the governor.
The mayor of Jersey City, Steve Fulop, a progressive democrat who formulated as an anti-establand candidate, suggested on Wednesday a statement that he did not convince that the case had no advantages, comparing it with the former democratic senator Bob Bob Menendez, who was recently sentenced to 11 years.
“I know the most political [people] There will be a comment in NJ, but here is a fact- there is often a difference between how the trial is distinguished by technical legal causes compared to what is competent/bad, “said Fulop on Wednesday in a text message and post on X.” This is a sad truth. We saw it with the first suspended jury Bob Menendez. We saw it in corruption matters across the country. NJ deserves a change. “
Fulop said that Prosecutor General Matt Platkin would repeat, who said that he was planning to appeal from the dismissal.
Democrat Sean Spiller, former mayor of Montclair and President Njea Teachers Union, also expressed skepticism in this matter and said that he sowed public distrust.
“With the president acting with a gross disregard of the law and the political system in New Jersey, which has long been controlled by outsiders and party bosses, we must rebuild confidence in our selected leaders,” he said in a statement. “Rejection of allegations leaves many unanswered questions that will only cause distrust.”
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The US democratic representative Josh Gottheimer, who represents the parts of Bergen, Passic and Sussex, described the release as an example of an sincere judicial system and used this topic as an opportunity to criticize President Donald Trump.
“Today’s decision says how the justice system is built for work – a judge, making decisions by a book without fear and favor,” said Gottheimer. “It is the opposite of what President Trump is now doing with the Department of Justice,” actively undermines the rule of law. President Trump could learn something from today’s decision about what the rule of law looks like. “
The mayor of Jersey City Ras Barak, a progressive democrat, refused to comment.
The democratic representative of the American Miki Sherrill, who represents the parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic, did not weigh the advantages of this decision, but she said that she had eyes to the case.
“As a former prosecutor, I monitor this case and I will continue to do it as an appeal of the Prosecutor General,” she said in a statement.
Some Republican candidates are quiet about Norcross
The perceived leaders in the republican race also did not jump on the occasion to talk about Norcross.
Bill Spread, a former conservative radio host, and Jack Ciattarelli, a former representative of the state, both refused to comment on Wednesday.
During the first Republican debate at the beginning of this month, Matt Rooney, the editor of the conservative Save Jersey website, described the last scene of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and former governors of both sides standing on the shoulder with Norcross during a breakthrough ceremony, while asking if New Jersey has the so -called “deep state problem.” None of the candidates mentioned Norcross in their answers.
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On Wednesday, Durr, a former republican senator and truck driver who removed Sweeney, said on the phone that he thinks that the case was “false” because the governor of Phil Murphy participated in the breakthrough with Norcross, suggesting that the governor would not do it if the case could be successful.
“This is the same aged, aged, through the establishment. They just play the game – Durr speculated. “… I think it was a bit like a, send a little message, maybe he left the line, maybe he did something that improved them a bit.”
Senator of republican state Jon Bramnick, a civil lawyer who represents parts of Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union, said on Wednesday that he talked to the best criminal defense lawyers and prosecutors after the indictment came out and everyone told him that they could not find a crime.
“If you are a public official, there are many things you can’t do, but as a private citizen it is completely different,” he said. “… rough and falling politics is not a crime.”
