Cronyism And Conflicts Of Interest At The Murphy DEP
In Response To My Ethics Complaint, Assistant Commissioner Cecil Finally Filed A Recusal Memo
Amazingly, Cecil Tried To Keep It Secret As A “Privileged And Confidential” Memo
Cecil’s Long Delayed Recusal Is Limited In Scope To Sparta Mountain
(Caption: “Forest Stewardship” in the Pinelands – DEP & NJ Audubon support these clearcuts)
Based upon learning that DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife recently hired a former NJ Audubon staffer (another high handed move and at best a crony hire, to be discussed in a subsequent post), I thought I’d check in on the status of the ethics complaint I filed against DEP Assistant Commissioner John Cecil for conflicts of interest arising from his prior work at NJ Audubon.
The multiple connections and revolving doors between Murphy Governor’s Office and DEP and NJ Audubon raise red flags and really warrant a close look. (also forthcoming)
By way of some background and context, Cecil is a strong advocate of the scientifically dubious “Young Forest” “active management” policy that promotes logging of intact mature forests, as is the DEP’s new crony hire.
Cecil presented these twisted scientific and active management views to Senator Smith’s Forestry Task Force and he implements these flawed policies in DEP forest and natural resource management programs he supervises.
The members of Senator Smith’s Task Force should have been made aware of Cecil’s conflicts and been able to understand both his strong scientific bias and conflicts of interest, which totally undermine any expectation of independence, scientific objectivity, and service to the public interest.
So I filed an OPRA request to learn if Cecil had been sanctioned by the State Ethics Commission and determine if he filed the necessary recusal documents to avoid gross conflicts of interest he has.
I got a highly unusual rapid response from DEP that provided Cecil’s recusal memo.
So we must declare victory in the filing of the ethics complaint.
But upon review of that recusal memo, we find that Cecil went from the frying pan to the fire! (see letter and chronology below).
We also learned that DEP violated OPRA by denying my initial request for Cecil’s ethics disclosure documents, on the stated basis that such records were “”confidential personnel” records that were exempt from OPRA. That was a lie, which DEP now exposes by providing exactly those ethics documents.
Amazingly, I caught DEP Commissioner LaTourette in exactly this same unethical game when I filed an ethics complaint that forced him to file and amend his recusal documents.
Ignoring these ethical lapses, both LaTourette and Cecil long delayed recusal and when Cecil did he tried to keep it secret by classifying the memo as “Privileged And Confidential” – which obviously is false because DEP just gave the memo to me in response to my OPRA request for it.
And the memo is so narrow in scope that it amounts to more unethical behavior, so I let him know exactly how I feel, see:
———- Original Message ———-
From: Bill WOLFE <b>
To: “john.cecil@dep.nj.gov” <john.cecil@dep.nj.gov>
Cc: “shawn.latourette@dep.nj.gov” <shawn.latourette@dep.nj.gov>, senbsmith <SenBSmith@njleg.org>, sengreenstein <sengreenstein@njleg.org>, “senmckeon@njleg.org” <senmckeon@njleg.org>, “Keys, Mary Ann [ETHICS]” <Maryann.Keys@ethics.nj.gov>
Date: 04/03/2024 8:57 AM EDT
Subject: Recusal Memo
Dear DEP Assistant Commissioner Cecil:
I am in receipt of your October 21, 2022 recusal memo to Commissioner LaTourette, which I received today via OPRA discovery.
At the outset, I must note that you classified this memo as “Privileged and Confidential”. It is neither. I must object to your attempt to keep this memo secret. I find this particularly ironic as your stated intent in recusal was to “avoid an appearance” of a conflict of interest.
How would the public appearance of a conflict be remedied or mitigated via a secret “Privileged and Confidential” recusal memo?
I also must note that you filed the subject recusal memo after over 18 months serving at DEP in a management capacity.
The chronology is troubling.
On August 24, 2022, the Department denied my OPRA request for your ethics disclosure and recusal documents on the basis that such records were “confidential personnel records” exempt from OPRA.
On August 25, 2022, I filed a complaint against you to the State Ethics Commission, see:
On September 19 and October 14, 2022, I supplemented that complaint via emails.
Given this chronology, I must infer that you filed the subject recusal only in response to the State Ethics Commission’s review (or perhaps upon direct Order from the Ethics Commission. I request your clarification on the events that triggered your filing. I will file another OPRA today to determine if the Ethics Commission issued direction.)
You did not self initiate this recusal upon hiring at DEP or in response to Commissioner LaTourette’s direction or the DEP Ethics Officer’s guidance, because both were copied on and fully aware of the ethics complaints cited above.
Again, I find this ironic, because I previously forced Commissioner LaTourette to file an ethics recusal document, again via OPRA, see
One would think DEP managers would learn from their mistakes.
In addition to the extraordinary delays and intransigence in your response to this matter, I also must strenuously object to the legal basis and substantive scope of the recusal.
The legal basis of your recusal is limited to the “appearance” standard, when in fact you had direct and actual conflicts (plural), given your prior work at NJ Audubon and your work at DEP, as I documented in my August 25, 2022 ethics complaint.
The substantive scope of your recusal is limited to the Sparta Mountain Forest Stewardship Plan. However, as I documented in my August 25, 2022 ethics complaint, you have the appearance of and potential conflicts in many regulatory decisions, personnel decisions, and policy matters under your management control at DEP.
Regarding personal matters, I also must now note, having learned of it yesterday, that the DEP Division of Fish and Game recently hired Kristen Meistrell, a former NJ Audubon staffer who I believe worked under your direction at NJ Audubon. That is cronyism, if not another ethical lapse.
So once again, given the above flaws, you (and DEP Commissioner LaTourette) have failed to meet your ethical obligations and basic principles of public service.
Do better.
Bill Wolfe
cc: Legislative leaders copied on original ethics complaint
State Ethics Commission