Gottheimer Says Garrett Is ‘Soft On Terror’

WYCKOFF, N.J. — Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer claimed that incumbent Rep. Scott Garrett is “soft on terror” this week and said he voted more than a dozen times to block “no fly, no buy” legislation banning terrorists from purchasing assault-grade weapons.

“The only thing that’s factual is that Scott Garrett is soft on terror,” said Gottheimer, a former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton who has billed himself as a fiscal conservative and socially progressive candidate.

Gottheimer also said Garrett voted to slash essential firefighter grants that would have provided money to fire stations in Paramus and Oradell.

Garrett’s campaign manager Sarah Neibart said the seven-term Republican incumbent has been an “unwavering advocate for the national security of our country, as well as country’s first responders.”

Neibart said that Gottheimer’s “lies” about Garrett are absurd and that they are “simply getting more ridiculous as the campaign season progresses.”

Gottheimer’s attack on Garrett is the latest volley by the Wyckoff resident against what he claims is Garrett’s lack of caring for his constituents. He said last month that Garrett voted six times against measures to combat the Zika virus. One of the first babies born in the United States with Zika-related birth defects was born at Hackensack University Medical Center in May. The hospital is located in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District.

Garrett’s camp is that he has supported efforts to provide funding to combat the virus.

The 5th District race is one of the House’s most intriguing this election season. Garrett has come under fire for months since Politico reported Garrett told fellow Republicans that he would not pay his dues to the National Republican Congressional Committee because it supports gay candidates.

Garrett has stopped receiving financial support from corporations, including First Energy, which owns Jersey Central Power and Light.

Gottheimer, has received endorsements from the National Association of Realtors, New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association and the union representing more than 5,000 firefighters, emergency medical technicians and dispatchers in New Jersey.

Related: Garrett Challenger Receives United Airline Pilots Endorsement

The 5th District is composed of municipalities in Bergen, Sussex, Passaic, and Warren counties. In Bergen, the municipalities include: Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hillsdale, Mahwah, New Milford, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Teaneck, Township of Washington, Westwood, and Wyckoff.