Blatant Hypocrisy from Attorney General Platkin and NJEA President Spiller: What’s the Status of the AG’s Criminal Investigation of Spiller?

Hypocrisy is in season for two of New Jersey’s most prominent politicians: Attorney General Matt Platkin and NJEA President/Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sean Spiller. The two are linked by the AG’s ongoing criminal investigation of Spiller for illegally misusing state health benefits as mayor of Montclair. But while three Wildwood officials were indicted for the same offense, the AG’s office has sat on the Spiller investigation for over two years.  Given their apparent impunity, both Platkin and Spiller feel free to spout hypocritical words as if the criminal investigation didn’t exist.  Does it exist, AG Platkin? 

Here’s Platkin in response to calls for his impeachment for his failed prosecution of George Norcross, per New Jersey Globe:

I am focused on the same priorities I have had since day one: … fighting corruption, no matter who it offends. [Emphasis added.]

But isn’t illegally abusing state health benefits corrupt wherever and whenever it occurs? Platkin certainly thought so when he prosecuted the Wildwood three. But with Gov. Murphy’s “dear friend” and political patron Sean Spiller another set of rules seems to apply.  This isn’t the first time Platkin has spouted high-sounding but thoroughly hypocritical rhetoric about the rule of law, but he needs to be called out on it every time.

And now Spiller’s apparent impunity has gotten him into the act. Per New Jersey Globe, also in response to the Norcross dismissal, Spiller had the gall to say:

I am running for Governor to change the way we do things in New Jersey, to restore integrity, and ensure that we are always putting the needs of working people first, not the insiders and special interests. [Emphasis added.]

First, we note that Spiller speaking of putting the people over insiders and special interests is laughable. Spiller is the ultimate political insider and president of the most powerful special interest in the state.

And what would Spiller know about integrity? He has been a walking conflict of interest for his entire political career.  As a Montclair councilman, Spiller was removed from the Board of School Estimates by a Superior Court for his conflict of interest.  As mayor, he was stripped of his power to appoint the school board by an overwhelming majority of Montclair voters because of his conflict of interest.  Now, as part of NJEA leadership, he has directed $22 million of his members’ regular dues to fund his personal political ambitions — without their knowledge or consent.

But that’s not all.  Spiller was also sued by a Montclair whistleblower for illegally accessing state health benefits and retaliation, which the town had to settle for $1.25 million.  In that lawsuit, Spiller pleaded his 5th amendment right against self-incrimination over 400 times, and he remains under ongoing criminal investigation to this day.

Spiller’s speaking of integrity is like, well, Platkin speaking about rooting out corruption no matter where it leads. Both comments are blatantly hypocritical, but they are just words. What about actual accountability for New Jersey’s two-tiered system of justice?  One for the common folk and one for well-connected insiders like Sean Spiller.