NJ county prosecutor resigns after allegations of misconduct, denies wrongdoing

A New Jersey county prosecutor resigned abruptly last week after he was accused of misusing funding from the state Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, according to a newly released state report.

James Pfeiffer, the now-former Warren County prosecutor, took county residents by surprise early Friday evening after his resignation, which was “effective immediately.”

The announcement was made by Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who said he didn’t “ take such action lightly.”

He appointed Anthony Picione, deputy director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), to serve as acting county prosecutor.

While Platkin didn’t offer any details about the reason for the abrupt change in leadership, he said he was “confident that this change in leadership will ensure that the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office operates with professionalism and fosters an environment in which reports of misconduct are taken seriously and reviewed appropriately.”

Later on Friday, a spokesperson for Platkin confirmed the move came after an investigation led by the OPIA about possible “misconduct by members of the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office,” New Jersey 1015 reported.

On Monday, a report released by Platkin’s office shed more light on the ouster.

According to the 22-page document, the probe into the county prosecutor’s office began two years ago, after whistleblowers said the office was padding numbers to get more grant money from the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.

The report also looked into whether Pfeiffer may have affected witnesses’ testimony during the probe, local television station WFMZ reported.

Pfeiffer, a former superior court judge and defense attorney, was appointed as Warren County’s top prosecutor in 2019.

He denies any wrongdoing and plans to hold a press conference in the coming days.

In a statement to WFMZ, Pfeiffer called the report “inaccurate.”

With News Wire Services