Democratic power broker fights for front-row seat to his own indictment announcement

George Norcross, a well-known Democratic power broker and businessman in New Jersey, snagged a front-row seat at the state attorney general’s press conference on Monday morning, watching intently as prosecutors unveiled a 13-count criminal indictment against him and five others.

Wearing a black suit with loafers, Norcross sat by himself with his hands folded in his lap as New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin accused him of engaging in a years-long criminal enterprise to unlawfully obtain property and property rights on the waterfront in Camden. He was also accused of collecting millions in tax credits and engaging in an extortion plot involving government officials to maintain power.

The sprawling indictment is a shocking development for Norcross who was once considered the most powerful non-elected political official in the state.

Shortly before Platkin’s press conference began, staffers in the AG’s office asked Norcross to move from the “reserved” seating in the front row — which the businessman firmly declined to do.

“Is there someone more significant than the lead defendant in the case to have a seat in the front row while he’s being excoriated by the attorney general of the state?” Norcross said to the staffers.

He sat in the reserved seat for the rest of the presser, keeping his head forward as Platkin announced the charges and answered questions from the press.

Norcross, 68, is an insurance executive and former member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) who spent decades influencing state legislation and politicians, especially in South Jersey.

After a series of political losses in 2021, Norcross moved to Palm Beach, Florida.

Norcross and his associates have been under investigation by the state