The recent rejection of Supreme Court nominee Phillip Kwon and the NYPD surveillance of New Jersey Muslims are the topics of discussion in the first of a two-part interview with State Attorney General Jeff Chiesa.
Chiesa said that he was disappointed for Philip Kwon with whom he has worked for 10 years both in the U.S. Attorney’s office and the State Attorney General’s office. At the same time, he is happy to continue working with Kwon.
“He is a trusted colleague of mine. He’s a man of absolute integrity and enormous talent … On the other side of it, I’m incredibly lucky to have him back. He’s the number two person in my department and someone I will continue to rely upon in all the things that I do to run that department.”
When asked about the Supreme Court confirmation hearing, he said that he didn’t get a sense of a meaningful review of Kwon’s legal experience which includes many high profile cases, citing one involving former Newark Mayor Sharpe James.
Kwon’s lack of judicial experience has been brought up by legal analysts. But Chiesa said that many people who have not been judges have gone on to become successful Supreme Court justices.
Beginning April 21, the fourth and final Fugitive Safe Surrender Program will be held in Atlantic City. Chiesa said the program offers people with outstanding nonviolent warrants an opportunity to get things cleared up. “The overwhelming majority of people that come down are released the same day and they’re able to move on with their lives with that burden lifted off them.”
The program, he added, also makes things easier and safer for law enforcement. “If you find yourself in a situation where you have to apprehend somebody suddenly, there’s a danger to the public, there’s a danger for the person you’re apprehending and a danger for the law enforcement official that has to conduct that operation.”
When asked about the NYPD secret surveillance operation of Muslims in New Jersey, Chiesa declined to comment on the ongoing review by his office but said he has had meetings with leaders from the Muslim community.
He said repeatedly that law-abiding citizens, whatever their religious beliefs, should feel free to associate or move around the state without fear of raising suspicion.
“Just like you or I shouldn’t feel, in our own personal lives, that we’re being watched just because of where we go to church or where we worship or where we have breakfast.”
Chiesa said that New Jersey and New York law enforcement agencies have and will continue to work with each other on all fronts, not just on terrorism matters.
“We have to work together in a collaborative way so that information is being shared so that we can all benefit from that information, because we’re all ultimately trying to get to the same goal which is public safety for everyone.”
Next: In part two of the interview — efforts to make Atlantic City safer.
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