Sen. President Sweeney Calls for Investigation of Atlantic County Prosecutor's Investigation of Ray Rice Case

State Sen. President Stephen Sweeney (D-3) called on Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman to investigate the decision-making process by the Atlantic County prosecutor that allowed Ray Rice to avoid prosecution for assaulting a woman in an Atlantic City casino.

Sweeney made the call Tuesday evening, two full days after a second, more graphic video showing the former Rutgers University football star punching his then-fiancee Janay Palmerin an elevator at the Revel.

Palmer was knocked unconscious by the blow.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office has made no statement and not responded to questions concerning the situation.

“This video and the violence it shows is extremely disturbing,” Sweeney said. “It is a vivid reminder that domestic violence is a serious problem that can’t be ignored and shouldn’t be treated lightly. That is why I am asking Acting Attorney General John Hoffman to review the decision-making process that allowed for Pre-Trial Intervention and to look at the law itself to see if it should be re-written or revised. This should include a review of who qualifies for PTI and when it is allowed.”

Another video released soon after the incident took place in February showed Rice dragging his now-wife Janay Palmer out of an elevator, and at the time, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office told nj.com it had more videos of the incident.

The NFL claims it didn’t have possession of the video when it handed down a much-criticized two-game suspension for Rice. On Monday, the league suspended Rice indefinitely.

“As Senate President, I have a responsibility to see that the law is used to protect women from abuse and, as a husband and father, I have a moral obligation to do what I can to prevent these acts of violence from being repeated,” Sweeney said. “Anything we can learn from this incident and the way it was handled by law enforcement that can be used to better counter domestic violence should be done.”

Rice was charged with aggravated assault after the incident in a Revel Casino elevator on Feb. 15. Initially, both were charged, but charges against Palmer were dropped, and the two were wed shortly after the incident.

A rumored plea deal called for Rice to serve between two and five years probation and pay a fine.

On May 20, the prosecutor announced Rice was entering into the intervention program, which is a diversionary program that ranges that permits first time offenders of third or fourth degree crimes to avoid prosecution

At the time, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain said the decision was the best possible given “all relevant information in light of applicable law.”