Detective’s Defamation Lawsuit Puts Spotlight on HCPO — and Prosecutor Suarez’s Troubled Legacy

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A Hudson County detective has officially taken aim at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office (HCPO), filing a defamation lawsuit against Prosecutor Esther Suarez over a botched internal investigation and false, damaging accusations. This lawsuit doesn’t just expose one internal failure — it pulls back the curtain on Suarez’s long and troubling history of corruption, political favoritism, and backroom deals that continue to plague Hudson County.

🔍 The Defamation Lawsuit

Detective Maegan Larsen filed the lawsuit on May 28 in Superior Court, accusing Suarez and HCPO of defaming her during an internal probe that improperly painted her as engaging in misconduct. Larsen claims that the accusations were false and recklessly spread by the office, causing serious harm to her personal and professional reputation.

But for those familiar with Prosecutor Suarez’s track record, this comes as no surprise.

A Disturbing Pattern Under Suarez’s Leadership

This latest scandal is just one piece in a long list of disturbing controversies tied to Suarez’s leadership and her close ties to Hudson County’s political machine.

1. Toxic, Racist Work Culture

An external probe revealed that the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office fostered a toxic, racially hostile environment, with assistant prosecutors openly making racist jokes, especially targeting Mexicans and other minorities. The culture of discrimination and intolerance thrived under Suarez’s watch, with little to no accountability.

2. The Manufactured “Assault” Story

Suarez came under fire for her aggressive response to a minor incident involving Star-Ledger editorial page editor Tom Moran, who gently tapped her during an interview. Suarez’s office escalated the situation to the point of absurdity, demonstrating a hypersensitivity to criticism while allowing serious workplace misconduct to persist.

3. Mishandling of the Katie Brennan Sexual Assault Case

In one of the most infamous failures under Suarez’s tenure, her office was criticized for its mishandling of Katie Brennan’s sexual assault allegations against politically connected Al Alvarez. Suarez initially claimed to have no knowledge of the case, but emails later proved she had been briefed on it as early as 2017. Critics believe Suarez’s inaction served to protect insiders within New Jersey’s Democratic establishment.

4. Political Favoritism and Corruption

Suarez’s deep political entanglements are impossible to ignore. Notably, she is closely aligned with Union City Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack, who also chairs the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee. Public records show that Suarez has personally donated to Stack’s political campaigns, signaling a clear conflict of interest for someone tasked with independently prosecuting crimes in Hudson County.

Her relationship with Stack and other Hudson County political power brokers raises real questions about whether her prosecutorial decisions have been influenced by her political alliances.

5. Rejected by the Biden White House

Ironically, even the Biden administration refused to consider Suarez for the role of U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, reportedly due to concerns over her problematic track record and ties to local corruption. While Suarez enjoyed strong local political backing from the Hudson County machine, especially convicted felon disgraced ex-US Senator Bob Menendez, her federal ambitions collapsed under the weight of her own history of mismanagement, questionable ethics, and political favoritism.

A Dangerous Culture of Retaliation

The lawsuit from Detective Larsen is emblematic of a broader issue: an office that retaliates against its own employees while shielding its political allies. Rather than fixing the deep-rooted problems within her department, Suarez has presided over a culture that discredits whistleblowers and emboldens misconduct.

Why This Matters

Public trust is eroding. Prosecutors should be above politics, but Suarez’s record shows the opposite — her decisions often reflect her political alliances more than the pursuit of justice. Accountability has been absent. From mishandled investigations to ignoring discrimination, Suarez’s office has consistently failed to correct itself. Her political connections shield her. Despite a pattern of questionable behavior, Suarez remains politically protected by Hudson County’s old guard.

Looking Ahead

The defamation lawsuit against the HCPO is now in Superior Court, where Suarez’s office will have to answer serious allegations under oath. Further exposure of political collusion between Suarez and powerful figures like Brian Stack could emerge as the case develops. Public pressure is mounting for a full, independent review of Suarez’s tenure, especially as more employees speak out against the office’s toxic culture.

🧩 Final Word

Esther Suarez represents exactly what is wrong with the Hudson County political machine: corruption, favoritism, and a complete disregard for the public’s trust. Her defamation of a detective is not an isolated case — it is the natural byproduct of an office where politics comes first, and justice comes last.

Suarez’s close financial and political ties to Senator Brian Stack — the very person who oversees judicial appointments in New Jersey — are a textbook conflict of interest. Add to that the fact that even the Biden administration deemed her unfit for federal office, and the picture becomes crystal clear: Suarez is not a public servant. She is a political enforcer.

The people of Hudson County deserve a prosecutor who is independent, honest, and free from the chokehold of political alliances. Until then, justice in Hudson County remains deeply compromised.