ICYMI: Jack Ciattarelli Slammed for Ties to Trump and Involvement in ‘Stop the Steal’ Rally

Star-Ledger Opinion: “With Democracy Under Attack, Ciattarelli Joined the Trump Crazies.”

Yesterday, the Star-Ledger published an opinion article from editorial page editor Tom Moran slamming Jack Ciattarelli for his far-right views and repeated lies about headlining a ‘Stop the Steal’ rally ahead of the deadly January 6th insurrection.

Three weeks after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Ciattarelli spoke at a rally organized under the banner, ‘Stop the Steal.’ “It may be remembered as his fatal mistake,” wrote Moran.

Last week, the Murphy for Governor campaign launched a television ad called “Our Way,” highlighting Ciattarelli’s involvement in the rally and several other extreme views, including his plans to roll back the right to choose, affordable health care coverage, voting rights, and gun safety laws. Moran says the ad “fortifies Ciattarelli’s ties to Trump,” and he “failed the test of character.”

“Ciattarelli decided to go hard right to win the primary and now he’s got Trump stuck to him like glue. It’s going to hurt him. As it should,” said Moran.

Read key excerpts from the scathing opinion article below:

Star-Ledger: With democracy under attack, Ciattarelli joined the Trump crazies. His excuse is implausible

Three weeks after Joe Biden won the presidential election, Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate for governor, spoke at a rally organized under the banner, “Stop the Steal.”

It may be remembered as his fatal mistake. Because there is video, and Gov. Phil Murphy’s campaign is using it to pound Ciattarelli over the head, to link him to Donald Trump and his most unhinged followers. And Ciattarelli is making it worse by claiming that he had no idea the rally was organized for that purpose.

“I would never have attended a Stop the Steal rally,” he says.

I don’t want to call that a lie, but there are 10 reasons not to believe it. The rally was advertised as “Stop the Steal” both online and in glossy fliers, with a photo featuring Ciattarelli as one of the speakers.

[…]

One of the men in the crowd wore a jacket made of a Confederate flag. He was in front of Ciattarelli, not behind. But no, Ciattarelli didn’t see that either.

And at the time of this rally, Ciattarelli was refusing to acknowledge Biden’s win. That didn’t come for several more weeks.

So, could all his denials be true? In theory, perhaps, but the chances are beyond remote, like finding a speck of dust in the vast universe.

[…]

To me, the rally is a big deal. Those were scary days for our democracy, and Ciattarelli failed the test of character. Even if his denials are true, he was late to acknowledge Biden’s win, or Trump’s poisonous role on Jan. 6. He was dancing.

[…]

But Ciattarelli decided to go hard right to win the primary and now he’s got Trump stuck to him like glue. It’s going to hurt him. As it should.

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