New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued a pardon to Harris Jacobs-son of Democratic fundraiser Joe Jacobs-hours before a jury convicted the 28-year-old in a fatal 2022 Atlantic City hit-and-run.
At a Glance
- Pardon signed at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 20, 2026, minutes before jury returned guilty verdict
- Victim Orlando Fraga, 76, died after being struck at 3:35 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2022
- Defense claims client was turning himself in later that morning
- Prosecutors say political connections undermined jury verdict
Why it matters: The timing raises questions about political influence on justice after a conviction was erased before it could be formally entered.
The Crash and the Conviction
Jacobs was behind the wheel of a 2016 Toyota 4Runner on the 1800 block of Atlantic Avenue when he hit Fraga, who was walking near a construction zone. Surveillance footage shows Jacobs stopping, leaning over the victim twice, then driving away without calling 911. Fraga later succumbed to his injuries.
A 2025 trial ended with a hung jury; a retrial concluded Tuesday when jurors found Jacobs guilty of second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
The Pardon That Beat the Verdict
Defense attorney Lou Barbone told News Of Philadelphia the governor signed the pardon at 8:30 a.m.-two-and-a-half hours before the jury announced its decision at 10 a.m. Barbone says he is filing a motion to vacate the conviction because the pardon preceded the verdict.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office learned during deliberations that a pardon was imminent, but the formal release surfaced only after the guilty finding.
Competing Narratives
Barbone insists there was no criminal intent:
- Accident unavoidable because pedestrian entered travel lane at a construction site
- Client checked Fraga’s pulse and confirmed a bystander was calling 911
- Emotional trauma caused him to leave, but he planned to surrender that morning
Prosecutors counter that the conduct caused an elderly man’s death and the conviction should stand.
Political Ties Under Scrutiny
Joe Jacobs, the defendant’s father, is described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as an Atlantic City power broker and Democratic fundraiser with connections to both Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy.
An Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson warned that “when politics pervades justice, the rule of law becomes subordinate to influence and power… Justice must be blind to status, relationships, power, and expediency.”
Governor Murphy, who pardoned 97 people in total, framed the move as part of a belief in “mercy and fairness,” saying each act represents “a story of accountability, growth, and redemption.” News Of Philadelphia has requested further comment from the governor’s office.
Key Takeaways
- A pardon timestamped before a jury verdict nullified a conviction in real time
- The victim’s family loses legal closure as the case ends without sentencing
- Prosecutors argue political connections subverted the jury’s finding
