WEBVTT - New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin Talks Gubernatorial Election

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<v Speaker 1>Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news.

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<v Speaker 2>The Cross, New Jersey. Bomb threats at multiple polling locations

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<v Speaker 2>have prompted closures relocations today. We are very happy that

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<v Speaker 2>he's making some time for us. We have with US

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<v Speaker 2>now Attorney General Matt Platkin, the new Jersey Attorney General.

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<v Speaker 2>So tell us law enforcement responded to these email threats

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<v Speaker 2>at polling places. Where do things stand right now and

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<v Speaker 2>what are you telling voters today?

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<v Speaker 1>Well, first off, I want to reassure every voter that

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<v Speaker 1>we are not going to tolerate anyone trying to interfere

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<v Speaker 1>with our elections. Voters should have full confidence at today's

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<v Speaker 1>elections will be free, fair, and they should be able

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<v Speaker 1>to cast their votes safely. We received by email early

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<v Speaker 1>this morning a number of threats to polling places across

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<v Speaker 1>about eight counties. Law enforcement responded immediately at each polling place.

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<v Speaker 1>They've secured the polling places and voters can vote safely.

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<v Speaker 1>At this time, there is no indication that any of

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<v Speaker 1>those threats were credible, and almost all of them have

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<v Speaker 1>been reopened. And we direct you to vote dot NJ

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<v Speaker 1>dot gov if you have questions about your particular polling site.

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<v Speaker 2>How many polling sites. Did these threats actually impact this morning?

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<v Speaker 1>It's around two dozen polling sites across the state, and

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<v Speaker 1>I should note there's no clear pattern of where they

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<v Speaker 1>went to. They were statewide. But again I want to

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<v Speaker 1>thank law enforcement for their incredible response quickly securing these sites. Again,

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<v Speaker 1>no indication that any of these threats were credible. We've

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<v Speaker 1>secured all the polling sites and almost all of them

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<v Speaker 1>have reopened.

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<v Speaker 3>Matt, talk to us about turnout here. What are the

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<v Speaker 3>expectations for voter turnout across my home state of New Jersey.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, over the past eight years, under Governor Murphy's leadership,

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<v Speaker 1>the state has dramatically expanded access to voting. So we've

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<v Speaker 1>seen significant increases in early voting in person and vote

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<v Speaker 1>by mail, and we hope that everyone who wants to

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<v Speaker 1>do so will cast their vote today. It's an exciting

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<v Speaker 1>day in the state. This is a fundamental right, people's

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<v Speaker 1>right to vote, and my job, principally is to make

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<v Speaker 1>sure that people can do so safely, freely, and fairly,

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<v Speaker 1>and that is exactly what I'm focused on.

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<v Speaker 2>And we are joined by New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin.

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<v Speaker 2>Tell us, Matt, your thoughts on President Trump threatening to

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<v Speaker 2>withhold or reduce federal funding to New York City. If

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<v Speaker 2>the socialist Zoron Mom Donnie wins in our mayor's race today,

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<v Speaker 2>that's going to impact if that were to happen New

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<v Speaker 2>Jersey as well, our friends just over the river, how

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<v Speaker 2>might that impact what's happening in your state?

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<v Speaker 1>Well, look again, I wish New York City is just

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<v Speaker 1>like New Jersey of free and fair and safe election today,

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<v Speaker 1>and I wish everyone well who's participating in that. The

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<v Speaker 1>President has routinely and the administration has routinely unlawfully withheld

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<v Speaker 1>funds against places that he've used as perceived political opponents.

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<v Speaker 1>New Jersey has not been immune to those risks and

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<v Speaker 1>those threats. We have gone to court dozens of times

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<v Speaker 1>and been successful dozens of times and restoring billions and

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<v Speaker 1>billions of dollars of federal funding that have been unlawfully held,

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<v Speaker 1>funding for things like as we're dealing with right now,

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<v Speaker 1>for eight hundred and fifty thousand New Jerseyans who rely

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<v Speaker 1>on Snap for their food, for themselves, for their kids,

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<v Speaker 1>for their seniors, things like funding for education, funding for

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<v Speaker 1>kids with special needs, healthcare funding for housing for our seniors.

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<v Speaker 1>All of these have been unlawfully cut or threatened to

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<v Speaker 1>be cut by this administration. So my response is very simple.

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<v Speaker 1>If this administration violates the law and hurts the people

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<v Speaker 1>in our state, I've been very clear we will go

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<v Speaker 1>to court to protect them.

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<v Speaker 3>Matt, I think I speak for most, if not all,

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<v Speaker 3>New Jersey transit writers, which I've been a New Jersey

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<v Speaker 3>transit commuter for forty years nearly. What's the state of

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<v Speaker 3>some of the gateway projects that we're moving along so quickly,

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<v Speaker 3>but now under threat from this federal administration. What's the

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<v Speaker 3>status there?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and I thank Governor Murphy who has been a

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<v Speaker 1>champion of the gateway project and deferred to him in

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<v Speaker 1>his office on the transportation infrastructure in the state. Ble Look,

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<v Speaker 1>the President made some comments. It is our understanding that

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<v Speaker 1>the project has not been affected, but we are going

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<v Speaker 1>to continue to monitor very closely. Just like I was

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<v Speaker 1>just saying, any unlawful threat to or cut to funding

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<v Speaker 1>that affects the state of New Jersey is something we

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<v Speaker 1>take very seriously, and we've been very clear that we're

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<v Speaker 1>prepared to stand up for our residents should we need

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<v Speaker 1>to do so.

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<v Speaker 3>All right man. Thank you so much. We really appreciate it.

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<v Speaker 3>Matt Plankin. He is the New Jersey Attorney General, Democrat,

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<v Speaker 3>and he is a proud graduate of Madison High School,

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<v Speaker 3>home of the Dodgers,