Gov. Murphy and AG Platkin Protect Murphy’s Pals with a Two-Tiered Justice System. Will This Be Their Disgraceful Legacy?

The Montclair Local reports that Montclair’s CFO and whistleblower, Padmaja Rao, is leaving her post in Montclair for a similar position in Piscataway. This seems like a good ending for Rao and helps Montclair put a troublesome time — and its controversial former-Mayor/NJEA President Sean Spiller — behind it.  But this shouldn’t be the end of the matter for Gov. Murphy’s pal Spiller, or for Murphy’s Attorney General Matt Platkin. Spiller has been under criminal investigation for misusing state health benefits for over two years, and Platkin’s evasive stonewalling makes us question whether Spiller’s case will ever be properly resolved. The indictment of three Wildwood officials for a similar offense juxtaposed with Spiller’s dead-in-its-tracks investigation makes it look like New Jersey has a two-tiered justice system: one for Gov. Murphy’s pals and one for everyone else.  Will this be Murphy and Platkin’s disgraceful legacy to the state?

Let’s recount the facts of this tawdry tale:

WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT AGAINST SPILLER:  In October 2022, Rao sued then-Mayor Spiller and the town for retaliation against her because she revealed that Spiller and other town councilmen had misused state health benefits. According to Rao, Spiller certified under oath that he worked 35 hours a week as mayor at the same time he served as a senior NJEA officer making $397,506 a year in compensation along with full health benefits. During his deposition, Spiller was asked how many hours a week he worked, but Spiller pleaded his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination, as he did over 400 times.

MONTCLAIR TAXPAYERS FOOT THE BILL: Montclair settled Rao’s lawsuit for $1.25 million, $1 million of which went to Rao’s lawyers, which was paid by Montclair taxpayers. But that was not all Montclair taxpayers paid for.  Per the Local, Montclair taxpayers also paid for an “army” of lawyers to defend Spiller and others in a legal battle that lasted over 18 months “because the town fought … so long and so hard,” causing Rao’s lawyers to bill over 1,000 hours of work.  Judge Stephen Petrillo criticized the dilatory tactics of the town’s lawyers as well as the “wall of secrecy” by which they tried to keep information about the lawsuit from becoming public, which prolonged the legal process.  In the end, the matter probably cost Montclair taxpayers millions.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF SPILLER IS DEAD IN ITS TRACKS: Recall that the AG’s office first subpoenaed Montclair for pay records and other documents over two years ago and subsequently indicted three Wildwood officials for the same thing.  In a recent update — given the otherwise complete silence over the investigation by AG Platkin — the Local reports that the AG’s Office confirmed that the investigation “continues” but “no updates are available.” According to the New Jersey Monitor, Platkin has evaded accountability by recusing himself from the investigation, which conveniently allowed Platkin to avoid State Sen. Mike Testa’s questioning about the status of the investigation. Testa asked Platkin why his office prosecuted the former Wildwood mayor for “fraudulently obtaining” full-time health benefits for his part-time job but has not prosecuted the Spiller, who was accused of the very same thing.  Testa noted that the Wildwood case was “pursued aggressively,” while Platkin’s recusal stopped the Spiller investigation “dead in its tracks,” and asked about the discrepancy.  Platkin evaded the question and claimed he didn’t know about the status of the investigation.

PLATKIN THE HYPOCRITE:  Platkin is a blatant hypocrite who spouts off about “pursu[ing] any investigation, without fear or favor and without regard to where it may lead” while sitting on the investigation of Murphy’s “dear friend” Spiller. Recall that under Spiller, the NJEA has been Murphy’s biggest political supporter, spending over $15 million in support of his elections. That also happens to be the case with Murphy’s pal Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, who also misused state health benefits, but who doesn’t appear to be under investigation at all. Recall that Gill managed Murphy’s 2017 campaign for governor and ran the pro-Murphy Super PAC, New Direction New Jersey.

MURPHY AND PLATKIN’S LEGACY: A TWO-TIERED SYSTEM OF JUSTICE: We’re going to make a prediction: before Murphy and Platkin leave office, the investigation of Spiller will be closed without any consequences for Spiller — or Gill.  Thanks to Murphy and Platkin, New Jersey will continue to live down to its reputation as a state where the well-connected can and will get away with corrupt behavior.  You just have to know the right politicians. Will this be Murphy and Platkin’s disgraceful legacy to the state?