New Jersey Republican Scandals | Updated List of GOP Scandals in NJ
New Jersey Republican U.S. Congress Member & Candidate Scandals
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Alex ZdanFmr. U.S. Senate Candidate
3/14/24Swerved into oncoming traffic while driving drunk and hit another car, fled the scene and was later found asleep in his car by police who reported he had noticeable signs of impairment including a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, slurred speech and bloodshot eyes and then failed field sobriety tests and had a BAC three times the legal limit of 0.25
According to charging documents filed by local police -
Kate GibbsFmr. U.S. Rep Candidate
2/15/20
According to an exclusive report by the Burlington County Times -
Ian SmithFmr. U.S. Rep Candidate
3/28/22Swerved so erratically that he forced another driver to take measures to avoid a collision, struggled on a field sobriety test after police pulled him over and was arrested after he refused to take a breathalyzer
4/28/07Killed a 19-year-old after he drunkenly barreled through a stop sign and crashed into his victim's car and then admitted to police that he drank 10-12 beers not long before his crash
According to charging documents filed by local police
New Jersey Republican Executive Branch Scandals
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Justin BarberaFmr. Gov. Candidate [R-NJ]
6/09/25
According to charging documents filed by local officials
New Jersey Republican State Legislator Scandals
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Michael SilvestriFmr. State Rep. Candidate
2/15/19Was accused of sexually assaulting a former campaign aide at a local GOP headquarters and later texting her pictures of weapons to scare her from reporting him to the police
According to an exclusive report by The Trentonian
2/13/19Sent an unsolicited picture of his erect penis and other sexually inappropriate pictures to a subordinate
According to an exclusive report by NJ1015.com
New Jersey Republican Mayor Scandals
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Jack TompkinsMayor [R-NJ]
7/11/25Sexually harassed a female government employee and retaliated against her when she filed an official complaint and then used taxpayer dollars to settle a lawsuit she filed against him and the town
7/11/25
According to an exclusive report by WHYY public media -
David HuskMayor [R-NJ]
11/03/16Modified his timecards so he could get paid for hours he didn't actually work on at least five separate occasions before he was caught by his employer and reported to the police
According to charging documents filed by local police -
William RosemanFmr. Mayor [R-NJ]
7/06/12Illegally kept his ex-wife on his taxpayer-funded health insurance plan after they divorced resulting in her improperly getting medical benefits she wasn't entitled to and over $7k worth of prescription drugs at taxpayer expense
According to charging documents filed by state officials -
Sal BonaccorsoFmr. Mayor [R-NJ]
1/10/25Illegally operated his private business out of the mayor's office where he utilized public resources and personnel to improperly obtain government permits that enriched him personally and then encouraged at least one witness to lie to investigators if they were questioned
According to charging documents filed by state officials -
John BencivengoFmr. Mayor [R-NJ]
3/13/13Accepted $12,400 in cash bribes in exchange for helping a health insurance broker keep their contract with a local school district
According to charging documents filed by federal officials -
Ted TomaszewskiFmr. Mayor [R-NJ]
1/17/23Engaged in multiple sex acts including penetrative sex with a 15-year-old boy over a two-month period
According to charging documents filed by local police -
Chris MyersFmr. Mayor [R-NJ]
12/05/11Paid a male prostitute from an escort website $500 to have sex while also being married with two children
According to the person he reportedly slept with and reported on by Politico -
Paul KennedyFmr. Mayor [R-NJ]
1/26/24
According to charging documents filed by local policeStole an unknown amount from parking meters that was supposed to be deposited into a government bank account and sold government office furniture through a social media account with the intention of keeping the money he made from the sale
According to charging documents filed by local police -
Frederick GattusoFmr. Mayor Nominee [R-NJ]
7/29/21
According to charging documents filed by local police
New Jersey Republican City Official Scandals
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Richard BennettCity Council Member [R-NJ]
5/28/25Sent multiple anonymous letters verbally attacking local board of education members in a threatening manner
According to charging documents filed by local officials -
Joe FitzgeraldSchool Board Member [R-NJ]
7/08/25Had an unregistered pistol, a second gun and a stun gun that was shaped like brass knuckles which police found in his car after they pulled him over following a 911 call that reported he was heavily armed and driving to confront someone
According to charging documents filed by local officials
Other New Jersey Republican Scandals
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Bill HaydenCounty Commissioner [R-NJ]
7/15/25Illegally claimed a $6k federal tax deduction by falsely claiming he was a combat veteran who served in the Navy SEALs
According to charging documents filed by state officials -
John CesaroCounty Commissioner [R-NJ]
12/19/19Illegally accepted two checks for $2,600 each -- the exact amount someone can legally donate to a political candidate -- from a straw donor who also happened to be cooperating with the authorities
12/19/19Accepted at least $10k in cash stuffed in an envelope and $2,350 worth of checks from a business executive turned government informant he promised to make tax counsel for the county and award government contracts to
According to charging documents filed by state officials