New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has ignited controversy by pardoning Harris Jacobs, convicted in a deadly hit-and-run, just hours before a jury delivered its verdict.

On Jan. 20, 2026, Harris Jacobs, 28, of Atlantic City, was found guilty of second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident stemming from a Sept. 4, 2022, incident where he struck and killed Orlando Fraga, 76, while driving on Atlantic Avenue at 3:35 a.m. That same day, as one of his final acts in office, Gov. Murphy included Jacobs among 97 individuals granted pardons, with the announcement coming after a state attorney reportedly informed Jacobs of the decision at 7:30 a.m., before the jury’s 10 a.m. verdict. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed they were notified of the pardon during jury deliberations, though the official release came post-verdict.

The timing of this pardon has raised eyebrows across the Garden State. How does a conviction for such a grave offense get wiped clean before the ink dries on the jury’s decision?

Tragic Incident and Swift Pardon

On that fateful night in 2022, Jacobs, behind the wheel of a 2016 Toyota 4Runner, hit Fraga on a dark Atlantic City street. Surveillance footage captured Jacobs exiting his vehicle, leaning over the victim twice, then driving off without alerting authorities, according to NBC Philadelphia. Fraga later succumbed to his injuries, leaving a family in mourning.

Jacobs’ attorney, Lou Barbone, argues his client lacked criminal intent, claiming emotional overwhelm drove him to leave. “That was simply too much of an emotional trigger,” Barbone told NBC, insisting Jacobs planned to turn himself in that morning.

Legal Battles and Political Ties

The legal saga didn’t end easily—Jacobs’ first trial in 2025 ended with a hung jury, leading to a retrial in January 2026. Conviction finally came on Jan. 20, only to be overshadowed by Gov. Murphy’s pardon, reportedly issued at 8:30 a.m. that day. Barbone is now pushing to vacate the conviction, citing the pre-verdict pardon.

Adding fuel to the fire, Jacobs is the son of Joe Jacobs, an Atlantic City Democratic fundraiser with close ties to Gov. Murphy and his wife, Tammy, as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Is this a case of justice served or influence peddled? The optics couldn’t be worse.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office didn’t mince words about the pardon’s implications. “Unfortunately, when politics pervades justice, the rule of law becomes subordinate to influence and power,” a spokesperson stated. This cuts to the heart of public trust—when connections seem to trump consequences, faith in the system erodes.

Victim’s Family Left Reeling

Orlando Fraga’s son, Kenny Fraga-Seruti, voiced raw frustration over the governor’s move. “This was his decision and it’s the worst decision ever,” he told NBC10. When the victim’s own kin feel justice has been snatched away, who’s really being served here?

Gov. Murphy framed his pardons as acts of mercy, emphasizing redemption and second chances in his official statement. But extending that grace to someone freshly convicted of fleeing a fatal accident feels less like fairness and more like favoritism. Mercy shouldn’t mean ignoring the weight of a life lost.

Prosecutors spent years building this case, meticulously investigating and retrying Jacobs to secure a conviction for Fraga’s death. To see that work undone by a last-minute executive act stinks of a system where political clout can override a jury’s voice. It’s a bitter pill for any community to swallow.

Questions of Timing and Intent

The pardon’s timing—hours before the verdict, per Barbone’s account—raises serious questions about process and intent. If the state knew a pardon was imminent, why let the trial play out, wasting resources and deepening a family’s pain? It’s a bureaucratic mess that demands answers.

Critics argue this isn’t just about one case; it’s a symptom of a broader trend where progressive policies prioritize leniency over accountability. When justice bends to political whims, the message to everyday folks is clear: rules apply, unless you know the right people. That’s not the equality we’re promised.

Fraga’s family deserves closure, not a political sidestep that leaves their grief unaddressed. Jacobs may not have meant harm, but actions have consequences—or at least they should. If we’re serious about law and order, let’s ensure it’s blind to power, not beholden to it.