Last Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) nominated Matt Platkin to serve as the 62nd attorney general of New Jersey, according to a press release. Prior to being nominated for this role, he was chief counsel to Murphy from January 2018 to October 2020.
During Platkin's tenure, he advised Murphy on legal issues surrounding public policy and represented the state government in legal proceedings. He also played a large role in negotiations for three annual state budgets totaling approximately $40 billion and the state's handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as New Jersey’s next attorney general,” Platkin said. “I commit to work tirelessly, alongside the 7,700 outstanding public servants who make up the Department of Law and Public Safety, to protect and defend the rights of all 9 million people who call our state home.”
Murphy said he looks forward to working with Platkin in this new role and feels as though he will stand up for the values of New Jersey through his work.
Though, Murphy's decision to nominate Platkin to the attorney general position has been met with criticism from some regarding his response to a sexual assault allegation against a campaign aide in 2018, according to an article from NJ Advance Media.
In 2018, Katie Brennan, former chief of staff at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, accused Albert J. Alvarez, former chief of staff at the Schools Development Authority, of sexually assaulting her while they both worked on Murphy’s 2017 gubernatorial campaign.
Brennan said she told Platkin and other senior officials about the assault but no action against Alvarez was taken, according to the article. Upon hearing Platkin’s nomination as attorney general, Brennan expressed disapproval.
“This decision is deeply disappointing and sends a terrible message to survivors of sexual violence,” she said. “New Jersey deserves an (attorney general) representing the highest standards of ethics and the legal profession. We can do better.”
Murphy said that he was not aware of the allegations until Alvarez resigned, and Platkin said he believed confidentiality rules prohibited him from being allowed to tell Murphy about Brennan's allegations, according to the article.
“I can understand why, especially with the benefit of hindsight, a different conclusion might be appropriate,” Platkin said. “But I acted in accordance with what I understood, based on the training I received.”
In 2019, the New Jersey Select Oversight Committee released a report detailing Platkin and other officials’ handling of Brennan’s case, ultimately concluding that the officials failed to properly follow protocol when addressing the accusation, according to the article.
Platkin's nomination currently awaits New Jersey Senate approval, and he will resume the role of acting attorney general next Monday.
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Platkin nominated for NJ attorney general, faces criticism over handling of 2018 sexual assault information - RU Daily Targum
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