Race gets dirty: Anonymous letter sent to voters about candidate’s husband

The race for House District 30 is getting ugly after a letter was sent to voters about a candidate’s husband getting in trouble with the law.

The race is between Republican Incumbent Anthony Giarusso and Democratic challenger Justine Caldwell. That letter was sent to voters and top Democrats in the state showing that Caldwell’s husband and campaign manager David has an active warrant out for his arrest from Ohio.

The Caldwells call the letter a distraction from the issues facing East Greenwich.

"I would be ashamed of myself if I sent a letter like that and we know they were ashamed because they didn’t even sign their names to it," Justine said. "That letter got mailed to parents at my kids’ school, got mailed to the parents of our teenage babysitter and that feels terrible."

ABC 6 spoke with Caldwell’s husband, David, who said he’s not in any trouble, and the whole thing was taken way out of proportion.

"My offense is so minor that I can’t even get the city [in Ohio] to call me back, whether I call and ask if they want me to do anything about it," he said. "To have it blown out of proportion like this is really laughable."

The Caldwells said they have an idea who might be behind the letter. They said it could be a Pawtucket man they’re trying to get a restraining order against.

"[He’s] been harassing me for a year and we know he has met with and supports my opponent," Justine said.

But Incumbent Republican Anthony Giarusso called that accusation deplorable, and said he was on vacation for weeks, until he heard the news on Sunday.

He said he had nothing to do with the letter.

"This is obviously very personal. It’s not political," Giarusso said. "He’s not the candidate, she is and I think there’s no place for this in politics."

Caldwell said she has been advised to contact State Police and the Board of Elections to investigate if any campaign finance laws were violated in paying for the letters.

Giarusso said he would like to see it investigated as well.