Politician Sues Camden Co. GOP Over 'Drunk Driver' Attack Ad

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — A state lawmaker has sued the Camden County GOP, claiming the organization sent a "defamatory" mailer that called State Sen. Paul Moriarty a drunk driver before last year's election.

Shortly before last year's State Legislature elections, the county Republican Party mailed a political advertisement to local homes that labeled Moriarty, a Democratic candidate, as "drunk driver Paul Moriarty," the lawsuit says.

Moriarty was charged with driving while intoxicated in 2012. But investigators later found that the arresting officer filed a false police report, and the charges were dismissed.

The recent attack came days before the 2023 election, giving Moriarty insufficient time to take legal action before the race, which he won. But last December, Moriarty's counsel wrote to the Camden County GOP's leader to request a retraction, according to the lawsuit.

County GOP Chair Thomas W. Crone, Jr. responded days later. Crone "did not deny" that his organization prepared and sent the mailer, and "further indicated" that the county party would not issue a retraction or apology, the lawsuit says.

Croce and the county GOP are named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed July 2 in Camden County Superior Court. Neither responded to Patch's requests for comment in time for initial publication.

Moriarty served as Washington Township's mayor from 2005-08 and represented New Jersey's 4th Legislative District in the State Assembly from 2006 until early this year. The 4th District currently includes portions of Camden, Gloucester and Atlantic counties.

A Washington Township police officer pulled over Moriarty in July 2012, resulting in his arrest. But investigators later found that police-dashcam footage contradicted Officer Joseph DiBuonaventura's statements, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. The footage was released to news outlets in October 2012, when the case was highly publicized.

Moriarty's charges were dismissed. DiBuonaventura was later charged with official misconduct and other offenses related to Moriarty's arrest. But he was cleared of charges after a judge found that the township's law-enforcement procedures were unlawful, NJ Advance Media reported in 2015.

Moriarty ran for State Senate after former State Sen. Fred Madden announced in early 2023 that he wouldn't seek re-election. He and the Democrats who ran in District 4's Assembly race all won their respective elections.

The state senator seeks various damages in the lawsuit.