Defamation Lawsuit Threat in New Jersey Gubernatorial Race
The campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey is set to file a defamation lawsuit against his Democratic opponent, Representative Mikie Sherrill. This comes after Sherrill made statements during a debate, claiming the opioid crisis has led to the deaths of “tens of thousands of New Jerseyans.”
During the debate on Wednesday, Sherrill accused Ciattarelli of exacerbating the opioid epidemic due to his involvement with pharmaceutical assistance training programs. She said, “You know, my opponent likes to talk a lot about being a businessman, but I don’t think people in New Jersey know much about his business. He worked with the worst criminals to spread propaganda that opioids were safe, making a lot of money while countless New Jerseyans were dying.” She also claimed he had been paid to create an app to help addicts access opioids, which she emphasized coincided with him profiting significantly as more people lost their lives.
In response, Ciattarelli fired back at Sherrill’s claims. He stated, “Regarding everything she just said about my professional career, that’s a lie. I’m proud of my career.” He also criticized her handling of immigration and the fentanyl issue, asserting that her approach during the Biden administration contributed to broader community challenges.
Following the debate, Ciattarelli’s campaign strategist, Chris Russell, issued a statement addressing Sherrill’s remarks. He pointed out that she falsely accused Ciattarelli of being responsible for the deaths of many individuals, including children. Russell deemed these accusations defamatory and over the line, especially amidst a climate of heightened political violence.
The Ciattarelli campaign plans to file their lawsuit against Sherrill by early next week.
Sherrill’s campaign responded to the lawsuit threat, saying that Ciattarelli was avoiding accountability by resorting to legal action. They emphasized that he has profited from the opioid crisis and misled the public about the risks associated with opioid addiction while also developing an app relevant to this issue.
