Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
FIRST ON FOX: New Jersey’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is facing scrutiny after accepting substantial donations from companies linked to the opioid epidemic, all while criticizing her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, for his alleged connections to that same crisis.
During a press conference on Monday, Sherrill highlighted the alarming opioid epidemic affecting the Garden State. She accused Ciattarelli of supporting pharmaceutical interests that exacerbate the crisis. “So you heard it, Jack made millions,” Sherrill stated. “The opioid companies made billions, and thousands of New Jerseyans were dying.”
Financial Ties to the Opioid Industry
Despite her fierce rhetoric against Ciattarelli, her campaign’s financial records reveal a troubling contradiction. Sherrill’s congressional campaigns reportedly received multiple donations from the AmerisourceBergen political action committee, amounting to $3,000 across 2018, 2019, and 2022. Additionally, her campaign record shows at least $4,500 from Teva Pharmaceuticals PAC, $1,000 from Endo Pharmaceuticals PAC, and a striking $17,000 from Johnson & Johnson.
Collectively, these donations total at least $25,500 from companies intertwined with the opioid crisis, raising questions about the ethics of her attack on Ciattarelli.
AmerisourceBergen’s Controversial Past
AmerisourceBergen has faced significant criticism for its role in the opioid epidemic. In 2021, Washington state’s Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson accused the company of profiting from the crisis through the distribution of dangerous prescription painkillers, with little regard for the deadly consequences. Recent settlements reveal AmerisourceBergen, now known as Cencora, agreed to pay over $500 million to Washington state as part of this fallout.
Earlier this year, AmerisourceBergen officials faced scrutiny for their dismissive comments, previously mocking West Virginians during the height of the opioid crisis. The company also announced a landmark $6.1 billion settlement intended to address the multitude of opioid lawsuits from state and local entities.
Government Actions Against Pharmaceutical Giants
In late 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against AmerisourceBergen, articulating claims that the company prioritized profits over essential legal obligations. The lawsuit alleged that the firm consistently neglected to report suspicious orders of controlled substances, including potent opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone. Such actions reportedly fueled the ongoing opioid crisis.
Other companies that contributed to Sherrill’s campaign also settled significant lawsuits over their roles related to the opioid epidemic. Teva Pharmaceuticals reached an agreement to pay over $4 billion, while Johnson & Johnson committed to a $5 billion settlement in connection with their part in the crisis.
Responses from Sherrill’s Campaign
Following these revelations, Mikie Sherrill’s campaign communications director, Sean Higgins, responded to Fox News Digital, labeling the criticism as a desperate tactic by Ciattarelli. He defended Sherrill’s track record, stating her readiness to confront anyone if it means advocating for families affected by the opioid crisis. “That’s why she helped pass landmark bipartisan legislation to fund treatment, recovery, and prevention programs in New Jersey,” Higgins asserted.
However, the campaign did not provide clarity on whether Sherrill would return the donations received from the pharmaceutical companies linked to this crisis.
Ciattarelli’s Past Donations
On the Republican side, Jack Ciattarelli also has a history of receiving contributions from companies involved in the opioid crisis. In 2017, he accepted $1,500 from Mallinckrodt LLC PAC, a company that later agreed to a settlement in connection with its role in the epidemic. Additionally, in 2016, Ciattarelli received $500 from Johnson & Johnson.
According to Chris Russell, a strategist for Ciattarelli, Sherrill’s history of accepting money from pharmaceutical companies undermines her attacks against him. “Just as Mikie Sherrill got caught red-handed profiting from investments in utility companies she blamed for rate increases, it’s unsurprising to find her hypocrisy extends to accepting campaign contributions from the very pharmaceutical companies she criticized yesterday,” Russell stated.
The Debate and Accusations
Sherrill’s assertions regarding Ciattarelli’s connections to opioid manufacturers sparked a heated exchange during a recent gubernatorial debate. Ciattarelli firmly denied her claims, reaffirming his pride in his professional career.
It was during his 2021 campaign that the connection to opioid manufacturers first emerged. Ciattarelli sold his company, which was involved in publishing content endorsing opioids as a treatment for chronic pain, in 2017. Following the debate, Ciattarelli’s campaign announced intentions to file a defamation lawsuit against Sherrill.
Russell expressed outrage over Sherrill’s comments, stating, “In a time where political violence is commonplace, Mikie Sherrill baselessly accusing a political opponent of mass murder crosses the line.”
The Ongoing Political Battle
The political landscape remains fraught as both candidates leverage accusations against one another to gain the upper hand in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race. Sherrill’s financial ties to opioid companies introduce a complex layer to her narrative against Ciattarelli, potentially complicating her campaign’s strategy.
As the gubernatorial race advances toward the election, voters may consider the implications of these donation sources on the credibility of Sherrill’s statements. The ongoing dialogue surrounding the opioid epidemic, paired with these revelations, underlines the importance of transparency and accountability among candidates in addressing critical health crises in their communities.
Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
