A major New Jersey Democrat donor and so-called power broker is embroiled in a real estate racketeering scandal alongside several other major NJ political figures, creating a fiasco that has left the state’s liberals reeling and led to a back-and-forth battle over corruption in the state.
For context, the situation began when George E. Norcross III, a prominent Democratic power broker in New Jersey, was indicted on June 17, 2024, on 13 counts of racketeering and related charges. Along with Norcross, five others were charged, including Norcross’s personal lawyer, brother, and a former mayor of Camden, New Jersey, according to press accounts.
In the indictment, which was shared with the press by New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, Norcross was accused of overseeing a criminal enterprise and using extortion and intimidation to get the rights to develop valuable waterfront real estate in Camden, New Jersey, which subsequently earned the Democrat politician millions in tax credits.
When the indictment was shared by The New Jersey Monitor, it revealed egregious criminal conduct from Norcross, who is quoted as behaving aggressively toward a Camden real estate developer. Norcross reportedly threatened the developer that he would “f**k you up like you’ve never been f**ked up before.”
Responding to the indictment, NJ Attorney General Matt Platkin told the press that he believed Norcross was exploiting Camden’s real estate market, explaining, “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.”
Continuing, Attorney General Platkin told the press that he would not let Norcross and his co-conspirators get away with racketeering. AG Platkin said, “This alleged conduct of the Norcross enterprise has caused great harm to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, the people of the state of New Jersey, and especially the city of Camden and its residents. That stops today.”
Moving on in his comments to the press, Norcross expressed a desire to move his trial along as swiftly as possible. He said, “I want to go to trial in two weeks. I want Matt Platkin to come down here and try this case himself, because he’s a coward, because he has forced people in this building to implement his will.”
"*" indicates required fields
For his next move, Norcross made a decision that shocked the press and everyone involved in the case, reportedly appearing at a press conference held by AG Platkin and making a scene, according to The New Jersey Monitor. A lawyer involved in the Norcross case was also present, and he defended Norcross’s decision to make an appearance, saying, “Is there someone more significant than the lead defendant in the case to have a seat in the front row while he’s being excoriated by the attorney general of the state?”
Then, in February of 2025, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw dismissed the racketeering indictment in a decision that furious residents argued was rooted in corruption. For example, community member Ronsha A. Dickerson told local media, “Hopefully, the spotlighting and exposure of this corruption and collusion will jolt people into action, or at least to have a better understanding how deep the tentacles of political greed will go in Camden.”
Similarly, community member Antoinette Miles said the ruling “makes a mockery of the justice system and exposes how there are two sets of rules in New Jersey: one that protects the wealthy and well-connected, and another that punishes ordinary people.”
Further, Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a statement that his prosecutors “disagree strongly” with Judge Warshaw’s ruling and the dismissal of the racketeering charges. He said, “After years in which the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently cut back on federal public corruption law, and at a time in which the federal government is refusing to tackle corruption, it has never been more important for state officials to take corruption head on. Today is a reminder of how much work remains, and how difficult it will be to clean up government in our state.”
So, the dismissal of the racketeering charges, for now, has only sparked further anger and allegations of corruption. Watch the dismissal update on the Norcross case here:
Featured image credit: Screenshot from the embedded video