Morris GOP lawyer pushes back on Globe report

Spokespersons call news organizations all the time to offer feedback on stories, but only from Morris County Republicans does a request for a clarification come in the form of an attorney letter.

Peter King, the counsel to the Morris County Republican Committee, contacted the New Jersey Globe on Monday seeking a retraction of a report that Morris County Republican Chairman Ron DeFilippis told party leaders in a meeting last Saturday he was “in the process of signing up a bunch of ‘celebrities’ to appear at their 2019 fundraising events,” including: Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, social media personalities known as Diamond and Silk; conservative commentators Katie Pavlich and Tomi Lahren; and Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro.

King says the Diamond and Silk appearance is “not a true statement” and said that no comment from DeFilippis was sought for the story.  The attorney said that no officer of the Morris GOP provided the New Jersey Globe with a statement.  (The Globe will neither confirm nor deny that any officer or attendee provided the site with the information we ran, as we are committed to keeping confidential sources confidential.)

The New Jersey Globe stands behind our story that Diamond and Silk were mentioned as fundraiser headliners at the GOP meeting.

DeFilippis is not especially communicative and the story was corroborated by at least two sources.

“In the future, if you would like a statement from MCRC, I would ask that you please request one from the Chairman before you publish any articles which are not truthful,” King wrote.

The Globe accepted King’s offer and contacted DeFilippis on Monday and three times on Tuesday to seek comment on something else he said in the Saturday meeting: remarks about Gov. Phil Murphy and former Gov. Jim McGreevey.

DeFilippis has not responded.

Later on Saturday, Morris GOP vice chair Laura Ali Nonnenmacher sent an e-mail to attendees of the meeting asking that the leaker come forward.

“We thought it was a good meeting but unfortunately it is disappointing, that someone who was in attendance today, breached our ethical standard of confidentiality that is standard with all executive committee meetings,” Ali Nonnenmacher said.

Ali Nonnenmacher wrote the Globe on Tuesday demanding the removal of a photograph of her that was taken during GOP meeting on Saturday morning.

“You do not have permission to use my picture.  Since it was not a public place or meeting, and you or your staff were not there to take it, it is a violation of privacy and publicity,” Ali Nonnenmacher wrote.

Peter King Letter
Peter King Response
Ali Nonnenmacher email