New Jersey Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Plans Defamation Lawsuit Over Opioid Claims

New Jersey Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli announced plans to file a defamation lawsuit against his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, following accusations made during their debate that Ciattarelli “killed tens of thousands of people” through his publishing company’s materials on opioids.

The lawsuit, expected to be filed early next week according to a Thursday night email from Ciattarelli’s campaign, stems from heated exchanges during Wednesday’s final gubernatorial debate. During the televised confrontation, Sherrill repeatedly accused Ciattarelli of responsibility for opioid deaths in New Jersey through his medical publishing business.

“Publishing the propaganda” of opioid companies, “while tens of thousands of New Jerseyans died,” Sherrill charged during the debate, later escalating her accusation by directly stating Ciattarelli “went on to kill tens of thousands of people in New Jersey, including children.”

The accusations reference Ciattarelli’s former company, Galen Publishing, which produced continuing education materials for universities, often funded through pharmaceutical company grants. A 2021 NJ.com investigation reported that some of these materials “appeared to downplay the dangers of opioids.” One article published by Galen noted that while misuse of pain relievers presented significant problems, “the risk of opioid misuse is low among patients with chronic pain who do not have preexisting substance use disorders.”

Chris Russell, a campaign strategist for Ciattarelli, condemned Sherrill’s statements, saying they “shocked the moderators, press, and public alike.”

“In a time where political violence and violent rhetoric are becoming all too prevalent, Mikie Sherrill baselessly and recklessly accusing a political opponent of mass murder in a televised debate crosses the line,” Russell stated.

The debate, which marks the second and final face-off between the candidates before Election Day, quickly devolved into personal attacks. When Sherrill made her initial accusations about opioids, Ciattarelli responded, “First of all, shame on you,” to which Sherrill retorted, “Shame on you, sir.”

Ciattarelli also made personal jabs, interrupting Sherrill at one point to reference reports that she didn’t participate in her Naval Academy graduation ceremony amid a cheating scandal. Sherrill has previously stated she was punished for refusing to report on classmates.

The opioid crisis has been particularly devastating in New Jersey, which has seen thousands of overdose deaths in recent years. The epidemic has become a significant political issue nationwide, with numerous lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies resulting in multi-billion-dollar settlements for their role in aggressively marketing opioid painkillers while downplaying addiction risks.

Sean Higgins, communications director for Sherrill’s campaign, showed no signs of backing down from the accusations when asked for comment. “Jack’s reaction is to hide behind a lawsuit, not to take responsibility,” Higgins stated, adding that “as he was making millions, the Big Pharma companies made billions, and tens of thousands of New Jerseyans died.”

The exchange highlights the increasingly contentious nature of the New Jersey governor’s race, where both candidates have sought to portray their opponent as unfit for office. Political analysts note that the inflammatory rhetoric reflects the high stakes of this election, which will determine who leads one of the nation’s most populous states through ongoing economic and public health challenges.

Legal experts suggest that defamation cases involving political figures face significant hurdles, as courts typically grant wide latitude for political speech, particularly regarding public figures. For Ciattarelli’s lawsuit to succeed, he would likely need to prove Sherrill made her statements with “actual malice” – knowing they were false or with reckless disregard for their truth.

As the campaign enters its final stretch, the lawsuit threat adds another layer of drama to an already tense electoral contest.