Legislators seek probe of DiMaso phone call

Two Democratic legislators have filed complaint against Republican Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso alleging that a robocall she recorded attacking them earlier this month spoofed their district office phone number.

Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Neptune) and Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Freehold) have asked the state Attorney General and the New Jersey Joint Committee on Ethical Standards to investigate DiMaso, and filed a complaint against her with the Federal Communications Commission, saying that DiMaso violated the Truth-In-Caller ID Act when an automated dialing system was programmed to show their phone number as the originator of the robocall.

DiMaso’s robocall, delivered to some voters in the neighboring 11th district, criticized the Democrats for their support of the state budget.  The calls were paid for by the Assembly Republican victory caucus.

The allegations against DiMaso are potentially serious.

In 2014, the state indicted a Republican political operative working for a primary opponent for making 4 AM robocalls that purported to be from GOP legislators Joe Kyrillos, Declan O’Scanlon and Amy Handlin and spoofed the Monmouth GOP headquarters phone number.  In 2012, an aide to former Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano pled guilty to charges that he spoofed the phone number of a Wayne councilwoman.

Houghtaling and Downey said that DiMaso intended to harm their reputation by spoofing their telephone number on the call.

DiMaso did not immediately respond to a 9:10 PM call and Facebook direct message seeking comment.