A new attack ad from Republican US Rep. Scott Perry seizes upon an unsubstantiated allegation of public nudity against his Democratic opponent in the Central Pennsylvania congressional race, former television news anchor Janelle Stelson.
The ad, which began airing Monday, features a voiceover that claims that police investigated Stelson for “exposing herself totally naked to a neighborhood child.”
According to PennLive.com, the accusation is uncorroborated. It relies on an alleged nude photo of Stelson in the backyard of her East Pennsboro home that Perry’s campaign does not have—and which the neighbor who claims to have taken it won’t share.
“This false accusation is a pathetic, desperate attempt by Scott Perry to rescue his failing campaign, with easily disproven lies,” Stelson’s campaign manager Alma Baker said in a statement to PennLive.
PennLive reports that the neighbor, Sharon Orr, said she called the police on the afternoon of Aug. 14 after seeing Stelson “walking around outdoors” with her “breasts and buttocks fully exposed and in plain sight of my minor aged grandchild.”
East Pennsboro police confirmed to PennLive that they had responded to the complaint at Stelson and Orr’s homes, and that no charges were filed.
According to PennLive, multiple Perry campaign signs are displayed throughout Orr’s property.
Last month, Perry’s campaign amplified erroneous reports via paid text messages that an undocumented immigrant, who was arrested for indecent exposure, worked forStelson’s campaign.
Two recent polls show Stelson with a slight edge over Perry, who is seeking his eighth term in Congress.
