June 27, 2025

The very agency tasked with rooting out corruption in New Jersey has now been caught engaging in what appears to be a shocking act of self-protection and possible evidence tampering.

According to a bombshell report from the New Jersey Globe, the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA)—a division under the New Jersey Attorney General’s office—intentionally destroyed work-issued cell phones belonging to three of their own lead investigators in a major political corruption case. These phones contained key text messages that were never preserved, despite active discovery requests dating back as far as 2020.

Let that sink in: the watchdogs destroyed their own evidence.

🚨 OPIA’s Stunning Disregard for Justice

The corruption case in question involved former Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell, accused of accepting cash in a sting operation tied to pay-to-play politics in Bayonne. But now, thanks to the OPIA’s actions, the focus has shifted from the defendant to the prosecutors themselves.

In court filings, defense attorney Leo Hurley described the destruction of these phones as a direct threat to the constitutional rights of the accused. The wiped devices belonged to OPIA investigators Michael Fallon, Ho Chul Shin, and Brian Powers—key players in the sting operation whose communications could have held critical exculpatory or procedural information.

Adding to the embarrassment, a fourth phone remains missing entirely, its investigator reportedly on military leave.

How does this happen in an office supposedly dedicated to public integrity?

🔥 A Pattern of Incompetence, Corruption, and Political Cover-Ups

Let’s not pretend this is an isolated incident. The OPIA, since its creation, has been repeatedly accused of being more of a political weapon than a justice-seeking body. Critics across both political parties have raised serious concerns about the unit’s lack of accountability, its tendency to selectively prosecute, and now, its apparent willingness to destroy evidence when it suits them.

The New Jersey Attorney General’s office—headed by Matt Platkin—has yet to provide a credible explanation as to why these devices were wiped long after discovery obligations were established. Instead, the response from the state has been muted, bureaucratic, and frankly, insulting to the intelligence of the New Jersey public.

Where is the urgency? Where is the independent oversight? Why are the people who claim to be cleaning up corruption allowed to operate in the shadows without consequence?

🔗 The Corruption Network: Bayonne to the Sheriff’s Department

As this story unfolds, it coincides with another troubling development in Hudson County: Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has just won the Democratic primary for Hudson County Sheriff, defeating five-term incumbent Frank Schillari.

Let’s be clear—Davis does not bring a reputation of reform. He brings a well-known track record of scandals and possible corruption. Given that the original pay-to-play corruption in Bayonne was exposed under his watch, it is not a stretch to assume that this same culture of backroom deals and political favoritism could now spread directly into the sheriff’s department once Davis is sworn in.

Even more concerning, Davis was heavily backed by none other than the already scandal-ridden Union City Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack, a figure deeply entrenched in the Hudson County political machine.

This isn’t just about Bayonne anymore. The web of corruption appears to be tightening its grip on key law enforcement positions, potentially reaching deeper into Hudson County and the state government itself. The OPIA’s destruction of evidence in the O’Donnell case now seems less like a tragic error and more like business as usual in a county where the political machine’s influence is vast, unchecked, and dangerously interconnected.

⚖️ Systemic Breakdown

When law enforcement agencies destroy their own evidence, it doesn’t just undermine a single case—it undermines the entire justice system.

How many other investigations have been quietly compromised by OPIA’s incompetence or, worse, deliberate misconduct? How many political careers have been protected because of phones that suddenly went missing or files that mysteriously disappeared?

This is not about partisan politics—this is about the basic expectation that those who enforce the law must also follow it.

🚨 Immediate Federal Investigation Needed

The people of New Jersey deserve more than carefully worded press releases and half-hearted internal reviews. This situation demands an immediate, independent, federal investigation.

The destruction of evidence by the OPIA reeks of a cover-up and points to a systemic rot inside the very agency tasked with protecting the public trust. The Attorney General’s office should not be allowed to police itself—especially not now.

New Jersey has a long and painful history of corruption. With Jimmy Davis now set to control the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, backed by political powerbrokers like Brian Stack, we may be witnessing a dangerous new chapter where the reach of the Hudson County political machine extends even further into law enforcement and state government.

The next court hearing in the O’Donnell case is scheduled for October 21, but New Jerseyans shouldn’t wait until then to demand answers.

We must ask:

Who watches the watchdogs? And who is protecting them?

Liberty State Park / Jersey City

More than two decades after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, New Jersey proudly repeats the words: We Will Never Forget. Yet, the state’s complete disregard for the original construction plans and long-term maintenance of the Empty Sky Memorial in Liberty State Park tells a very different story—one that reeks of neglect, broken promises, and government indifference.

A Memorial Left to Decay

The Empty Sky Memorial was meant to be a solemn, enduring tribute to the 746 New Jersey residents who perished in both the 1993 and 2001 attacks. It was thoughtfully designed by architects Jessica Jamroz and Frederic Schwartz to align with Ground Zero and stand as a place of reflection and remembrance.

But what was promised is not what was delivered.

The memorial’s exterior was supposed to be a striking architectural concrete—a surface worthy of the lives it honors. Instead, in typical fashion, the state cut corners to save costs, opting for a bland, industrial concrete that looks nothing like the renderings approved years ago. The design was cheapened, and the result is a visual insult to those we vowed to remember forever.

Even worse, maintenance has been an afterthought at best. Over time, the site has become worn, weathered, and largely ignored by the very officials who once stood at podiums promising eternal vigilance and care.

New Jersey’s Hypocrisy on Full Display

The words We Will Never Forget have been stamped on license plates, banners, and political speeches—but what are they really worth when the state can’t even honor the most basic commitment to preserve the dignity of the memorial?

The Empty Sky Memorial should be pristine. It should be sacred. Instead, it stands as a symbol of neglect, as if the state of New Jersey has quietly moved on, comfortably assuming that the public won’t notice or care. But the families of the victims notice. Veterans notice. First responders notice. And many New Jerseyans notice.

How dare we preach about remembrance when the physical space meant to embody that remembrance has been allowed to deteriorate?

Where’s the Accountability?

The Department of Environmental Protection and other responsible state agencies have had years to correct these issues. Years to deliver on what was promised. Years to uphold the sacred duty of stewardship for this site. Yet nothing has changed.

Where are the emergency funds when it comes to preserving this hallowed ground? Where is the same urgency and attention that politicians give to their press conferences and photo ops?

The fact is, if this were a new development project or a park in a more politically convenient location, it would have been fixed yesterday.

The State Needs to Make This Right—Now

It is time for the state of New Jersey to stop dishonoring the victims, their families, and the thousands of first responders who answered the call that day. This memorial is not just a tourist site—it is sacred ground. The state must immediately allocate the resources necessary to restore the memorial to its intended standard and ensure that its upkeep is a permanent priority, not an afterthought.

The phrase Never Forget should mean something more than words. Right now, New Jersey is sending the message that it already has.

| June 27, 2025

New Jersey lawmakers are taking unprecedented steps to strip the State Police away from the authority of Attorney General Matt Platkin, in what many are calling a public vote of no confidence in the state’s top law enforcement officer.

The move, proposed in new legislation, isn’t just a policy shift—it’s a damning indictment of Platkin’s leadership, or more accurately, his lack of it.

🚨 Failure After Failure: A Culture of Corruption and Inaction

For years, the New Jersey State Police has faced serious accusations ranging from racial discrimination to workplace misconduct. Yet under Platkin’s watch, nothing of consequence has changed. Misconduct has been swept under the rug. Investigations have stalled. Internal accountability has all but evaporated.

The rot runs deep, and it’s clear: either the Attorney General’s office is willfully turning a blind eye, or worse, it has become part of the problem.

Platkin has positioned himself as a defender of justice, but his record tells another story—a story of stonewalling, selective enforcement, and political favoritism.

🔍 A Pattern of Protection for the Powerful

When it comes to protecting political allies or shielding top brass from public scrutiny, Platkin’s office has been disturbingly consistent.

Where are the prosecutions of corrupt officials who are politically connected?

Where are the reforms following well-documented harassment within law enforcement agencies?

Where is the accountability for repeated civil rights violations and systemic abuse?

The silence is deafening.

Platkin has instead focused on chasing political headlines while ignoring the very real corruption festering in his own backyard.

🕵️‍♂️ Is the Attorney General Part of the Problem?

Some lawmakers now openly question whether Platkin’s office has crossed the line from inaction to obstruction. By failing to act on credible reports, by slow-walking investigations, and by keeping the public in the dark, he has created the perfect conditions for misconduct to flourish unchecked.

Worse, the Attorney General’s office has a pattern of protecting those within the political machine. How many times has Platkin’s office mysteriously dropped the ball when the accused were tied to powerful political figures? How many times has internal discipline been quietly avoided when it could damage politically useful relationships?

Platkin is either complicit or dangerously incompetent—either way, the public loses.

🔨 Lawmakers Step In to Do the Job Platkin Won’t

The proposed legislation to remove the State Police from the AG’s oversight isn’t just procedural—it’s a rescue mission for public trust.

When the state’s own law enforcement agency can no longer be safely overseen by the Attorney General, it’s a clear signal that the system is broken at the top.

Lawmakers are sending a message: Platkin cannot be trusted to police the police.

🗳️ Time to Let the Voters Choose Their Attorney General

It may also be time to take an even bolder step. New Jersey is one of the few remaining states where the Attorney General is appointed by the governor rather than elected by the people. In most other states, the voters themselves select their chief law enforcement officer.

Perhaps the real solution is to change how the Attorney General is chosen in New Jersey. Maybe it’s time the people—not political insiders—decide who holds this critical office. When the Attorney General is beholden to the governor who appointed him, public trust suffers. Letting the voters select their own Attorney General could be the key to breaking the chain of political protection and delivering true accountability.

📣 Time for Full Investigations and Real Consequences

New Jersey doesn’t need another press release. It needs an independent, sweeping investigation into Matt Platkin’s handling—or mishandling—of corruption, misconduct, and politically sensitive cases.

The question now is not whether Platkin has failed. That much is obvious. Especially with a lack of law enforcement management experience.

The question is: How deep does the corruption go, and who else has benefited from his silence?

The people of New Jersey deserve an Attorney General who prosecutes corruption, not one who protects it. If Platkin won’t clean up this mess, maybe lawmakers—and the voters—finally will.