"Republican Jack Ciattarelli has been on the campaign trail this week saying he's filed a defamation lawsuit against Democrat Mikie Sherrill, who during last week's gubernatorial debate accused him of "killing tens of thousands" of New Jerseyans by publishing opioid misinformation. But according to Ciattarelli's campaign attorney, the lawsuit has yet to be filed, as the state election agency weighs whether such a move would violate state campaign finance laws."
"Ciattarelli's campaign attorney Mark Sheridan wrote to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Division on Oct. 15 seeking an opinion on whether the Republican nominee would violate state campaign finance laws if he spent above the $25,000 cap in personal funds to sue Sherrill, according to a copy of Sheridan's letter to the agency, which was obtained by Gothamist. Sheridan said the campaign plans to hire outside attorneys to handle the lawsuit and that the cost will exceed the $25,000 limit."
Jack Ciattarelli has said he filed a defamation lawsuit after Mikie Sherrill accused him of "killing tens of thousands" by publishing opioid misinformation. Ciattarelli sold Galen Publishing in 2017; the company produced medical education materials that critics said downplayed opiate dangers. Ciattarelli's campaign attorney requested guidance from the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Division on Oct. 15 about whether spending personal funds above the $25,000 cap to sue would violate campaign finance rules. The campaign intends to hire outside counsel and expects costs to exceed $25,000. The agency's determination could delay any lawsuit until after the election, and political observers warn the focus might backfire.
Read at Gothamist
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