N.J. governor hopeful slaps rival with election law complaint

TRENTON -- A Democratic gubernatorial hopeful alleges the party's early frontrunner has run afoul of New Jersey's election laws and is asking a panel that enforces the rules to weigh in.

Jim Johnson, former U.S. Department of Treasury official under then-President Bill Clinton and federal prosecutor, wants the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission to investigate Phil Murphy, a former ambassador under then-President Barack Obama and Goldman Sachs executive.

Johnson claims two groups Murphy was involved with -- New Start New Jersey and New Way for New Jersey -- prior to launching his statewide bid amounted to exploratory committees and that Murphy's eventual gubernatorial campaign benefited from those groups when they raised about $5 million in contributions, according to the complaint.

He also alleges Murphy avoided disclosing some contributors and expenditures and that he skirted the close scrutiny that comes with declaring a gubernatorial run so early.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/03/governor_hopeful_slaps_rival_with_election_complai.html