New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rep.Mike Sherill on Monday doubled down on her claim that Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli is “complicit” with opioid companies in the deaths of tens of thousands of New Jerseyans.
Sherrill spoke during a press conference on the Garden State’s opioid epidemic, accusing Ciattarelli of “looking at ways to help people get access to the drugs that were killing them” through his ties to pharmaceutical-backed training programs.
“So you heard it, Jack made millions,” she said. “The opioid companies made billions, and thousands of New Jersevans were dying.”
When a reporter asked Sherrill if she still holds Ciattarelli personally responsible for the opioid deaths, the state lawmaker initially hedged her reply.
“I think we’ve laid out the case that Jack is complicit with these opioid companies, in league with these opioid companies,” Sherrill said.
The reporter asks Sherrill again, “So you’re saying he killed tens of thousands of New Jersey residents?”
“I think he is right there with the people that again paid billions of dollars,” Sherrill replied. “So I think that the line is pretty clear.”
Sherrill first made her claims that Ciattarelli contributed to the opioid epidemic during last week’s gubernatorial debate.
“With regard to everything she just said about my professional career, which provided [for] my family, it’s a lie. I’m proud of my career,” Ciattarelli responded, at the debate.
