New Jersey’s political arena just got a legal twist hotter than a diner griddle. Republican gubernatorial hopeful Jack Ciattarelli has secured a green light from the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) to sue his Democratic rival, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, for defamation over her debate jabs about his alleged role in the opioid crisis.
The Washington Examiner reported that NJ ELEC’s advisory opinion on Monday clears Ciattarelli to use personal funds for a lawsuit against Sherrill, provided it’s not tied to his campaign for governor.
Ciattarelli first threatened to sue Sherrill after her pointed remarks during their second gubernatorial debate on Oct. 8 in New Brunswick, NJ. Sherrill accused him of profiting from the state’s opioid epidemic through his medical publishing business, even pinning thousands of deaths on him.
Not content with just words, Sherrill doubled down by launching a webpage branding Ciattarelli as “Opioid Jack.” That’s the kind of label that sticks worse than gum on a shoe, and Ciattarelli wasn’t having it, calling her claims outright falsehoods.
Immediately after the debate on Oct. 8, Ciattarelli signaled his intent to take legal action. By Oct. 15, he penned a letter to NJ ELEC, seeking clarity on whether filing a lawsuit before Election Day on Nov. 4 would breach campaign finance rules. The man wanted his ducks in a row before pulling the trigger.
During that fiery debate, personal barbs flew both ways. Ciattarelli hit back at Sherrill, referencing a past Naval Academy scandal where she was barred from graduating for not naming classmates in a cheating incident, though she wasn’t implicated herself. It’s clear these two aren’t exchanging holiday cards anytime soon.
Fast forward to Oct. 27, and NJ ELEC delivered its unanimous vote on the advisory opinion. The ruling confirmed Ciattarelli can fund the defamation suit with his own money, as long as it’s not linked to his gubernatorial bid. That’s a narrow but crucial lane to drive through.
Theresa J. Lelinski, NJ ELEC’s legal director, laid it out plain and simple: “Mr. Ciattarelli may use his personal funds to pay for a defamation lawsuit initiated in his individual capacity against Mikie Sherrill, also in her individual capacity.”
She added that if the expenses aren’t aiding his candidacy, they dodge the $25,000 personal contribution limit and the $18.5 million expenditure cap. Sounds like a bureaucratic win, but a win nonetheless.
Sherrill’s camp, predictably, didn’t back down. Sean Higgins, her communications director, fired off on Oct. 27: “Jack has yet to deny his role in fueling the opioid epidemic, and if he actually follows through on his desperate and frivolous lawsuit, we look forward to obtaining legal discovery into Jack putting millions in profits over those dying in the opioid crisis.”
That’s a bold counterpunch, but isn’t it rich to call a defense of one’s name “desperate” when the original accusation was so inflammatory?
Ciattarelli’s lawyer, Mark Sheridan, told NJ ELEC on Oct. 27 that his client would prefer to file the lawsuit before Election Day on Nov. 4. With just over a week to act, the clock is ticking louder than a campaign ad on repeat. Will he pull the trigger, or is this all posturing?
The Ciattarelli campaign stayed mum when pressed for comment on the NJ ELEC ruling. That silence could be strategic, or maybe they’re just too busy sharpening their legal pencils. Either way, the lack of response leaves room for speculation.
Adding fuel to this political fire, high-profile endorsements have entered the fray. President Donald Trump rallied behind Ciattarelli with a call-in to a telephone event on Oct. 24, while former President Barack Obama threw his weight behind Sherrill via statewide ads. It’s a heavyweight matchup on every front.
Let’s not pretend this race is about polite policy debates—it’s personal, and both sides are digging deep. Sherrill’s opioid accusations and Ciattarelli’s Naval Academy jab show a campaign more about character assassination than infrastructure plans. New Jersey voters deserve a focus on real issues, not this soap opera.