Garden State Times

Today, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin faced criticism from Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) for allegedly misusing the resources of his office and impacting the welfare of transgender children. O'Scanlon expressed concerns about Platkin's leadership, stating, “The Attorney General’s office should be a dynamic, responsive, unbiased arm of government, seeking justice and good policy. Under his leadership, it hasn’t been.”

O'Scanlon pointed to two specific instances to support his claims. He criticized Platkin's involvement in a lawsuit against the Middletown School District over a trans student policy. According to O'Scanlon, this initiative was based on a misrepresentation of the district's policy and resulted in wasted taxpayer resources without providing any benefits or guidance for trans students. "What could, and should, have been a 20-minute conversation so both sides could actually understand the policy & the concerns became a years-long battle," he said.

Additionally, O'Scanlon highlighted the recent dismissal of Platkin’s lawsuit against George Norcross after a judge ruled that the allegations did not constitute a crime. “Combined these are humiliating, counterproductive, credibility-killing actions,” said O’Scanlon.

O'Scanlon called for accountability within the Attorney General's office: “The office, and the people manning it need to get their act together or get out and let people who understand the mission and are capable of implementing it step in and right this severely listing ship.”