Preet Bharara named Special Counsel to investigate slowdown in NJ police traffic enforcement

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Preet Bharara. PHOTO: X @PreetBharara

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced he is making Preet Bharara, former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, his point-man for investigating an alleged slowdown in the state’s traffic enforcement by police.

Announcing his decision December 11, Platkin said in a statement he was “deeply disappointed” that the NJ police’s stellar reputation as a traffic enforcement agency has been tarnished “by the alleged and unprecedented slowdown in State Police traffic enforcement from approximately July 2023 to March 2024,” Platkin said. “I am particularly concerned that this slowdown may have coincided with increased crashes and fatalities on our roadways.”

Given the regular and substantial operational involvement between Platkin’s office and the State Police, “I have appointed Preet Bharara, a Partner at WilmerHale and the former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as Special Counsel overseeing this investigation,” Platkin said to provide the rationale behind his choice of Bharara. “I have complete confidence that Mr. Bharara possesses the skill, experience, and unquestioned integrity to complete this investigation and pursue any lead, without fear or favor. To that end, while I will retain final decision making authority, Mr. Bharara will have the full authority of my office in investigating this matter.”

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Bharara, in his statement on the mandate, said, “I am deeply honored by the confidence placed in me to conduct a fair and rigorous investigation on behalf of the people of New Jersey, who deserve a thorough accounting of the facts.”