TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin joined a coalition of 21 state attorneys general on Friday in condemning a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, calling it politically motivated.
In an open letter, the attorneys general criticized what they described as harassment and intimidation of James, alleging the federal probe was launched as political retribution rather than based on evidence of wrongdoing.
“As lawyers, public servants, and defenders of the rule of law, we are deeply alarmed by the efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice to engage the machinery of criminal law enforcement in a campaign of intimidation against New York Attorney General Letitia James,” the coalition wrote.
The letter also singled out Edward R. Martin Jr., director of the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group,” who is leading the investigation, accusing him of acting more like a “showman” than an impartial investigator.
Platkin, in a statement, said James has acted in the best interests of New York residents and accused the Trump administration of abusing federal power for political purposes.
