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SARATOGA COUNTY, New York (June 17, 2026) – Last night, at the Upstate Conservative Coalition meeting, paid employees and staffers of lifelong Democrat Anthony Constantino from outside of the district completely disrupted and shut down a public forum by shouting down Robert Smullen, and verbally assaulting committee members before needing to be removed from the meeting. Anthony Constantino’s staffers, after realizing their staged theatrics and planned lies were not working, resorted to verbally attacking voters and committee members in the room. Since then, Anthony Constantino has lied about the events as his campaign is in a desperate spiral, attempting to distract from the behavior of his paid staff members in the room. The attacks centered on three false claims: that a privately-funded solar installation on Smullen's property is connected to Communist China, that it was funded by taxpayers, and that Assemblyman Smullen committed tax fraud. All three claims are false. The solar installation on Assemblyman Smullen's property was financed entirely with private capital. The panels are manufactured by LG – the same company that makes the refrigerators, televisions, and washing machines in millions of American homes. There is no connection to China, the Chinese Communist Party, or any Chinese-affiliated entity of any kind. The tax fraud allegation is not new. It was first raised during Assemblyman Smullen's 2018 campaign for the State Assembly – a politically motivated attempt to weaponize the criminal justice system against a candidate, the same tactic used against President Donald Trump. Assemblyman Smullen did not commit a felony. He was not convicted of any crime. The allegation was then what it remains today: a smear with no basis in fact, recycled by a campaign that has run out of legitimate attacks. "Voters in this district deserve honest answers, and I will always give them honest answers," said Assemblyman Smullen. "What happened last night was not a policy disagreement. It was an organized attempt to prevent voters from hearing the truth. That tells you everything you need to know about where Anthony Constantino's campaign stands six days before the primary." Assemblyman Robert Smullen is a retired United States Marine Corps Colonel with 24 years of service and three combat tours in Afghanistan. He currently serves as New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District and Chairman of the Assembly Republican Conference. He has earned the endorsements of the New York State Republican Party, the Conservative Party, 12 of 15 county Republican committees, the New York State Troopers PBA, Teamsters Local 294, the NRA, Gun Owners of America – New York, the New York State Pistol and Rifle Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. When a campaign cannot win on the facts, it resorts to disruption. Voters will have the final word. Early voting is underway now through June 21st. Primary Day is June 23rd, 2026.

NEW YORK (June 16, 2026) – Smullen for Congress today released its closing television advertisement, "Character Counts," ahead of the June 23 Republican and Conservative Party primary in New York's 21st Congressional District. The ad will begin airing tomorrow, June 16. The 30-second spot features Robert Smullen – retired Marine Corps Colonel and Republican and Conservative Party candidate for Congress – drawing a sharp contrast with opponent Lifelong Democrat Anthony Constantino on character, record, and fitness for office. In the ad, Smullen highlights his 24 years of military service, including three tours in Afghanistan, before turning to Constantino's documented record: anti-police rhetoric, mocking the disabled, hiring convicted sex offenders on his campaign, and spending millions on a campaign built on deception rather than substance. The ad closes with a direct pledge to voters: "I'm a patriot who served our country. In Congress, I'll be a patriot who serves you." The full text of the ad is as follows: "I'm Robert Smullen. Marine Colonel. Three tours in Afghanistan and the Conservative and Republican candidate for Congress. I've spent my life serving America. My opponent? A lifelong Democrat. He attacked police. Mocked the disabled. Hired sex offenders. Now he's spending millions lying about me because he can't defend his own record. The truth is simple: I'm a patriot who served our country. In Congress, I'll be a patriot who serves you. I'm Robert Smullen, and I approve this message." "Anthony Constantino can spend all the money he wants, but he cannot hide from his own record," said Assemblyman Robert Smullen. "This race comes down to a simple choice: a Marine Colonel who has spent his life serving America, or a lifelong Democrat who has spent his career attacking the police, mocking the vulnerable, and employing sex offenders. Voters in New York's 21st District deserve to know the truth before they cast their ballots." "Character Counts" will run across the district's media markets in the final days before the June 23 primary, as early voting continues through June 21st. Smullen is the endorsed candidate of the New York State Republican Party, the Conservative Party of New York State, the New York State Troopers PBA, Teamsters Local 294, the NRA, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Gun Owners of America – New York, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and 12 of 15 county Republican committees in New York's 21st District.

GLOVERSVILLE, New York (June 15, 2026) – The campaign of Assemblyman Robert Smullen today responded to a legal threat from lifelong Democrat Anthony Constantino, calling it a transparent shakedown – one that demands Assemblyman Smullen pay cash compensation in connection with statements he made defending the memory of his 14-year-old son, AJ. This is a man who has no business seeking a seat in the United States Congress and no soul left to speak of. Constantino, through his Florida-based attorney, has demanded that Assemblyman Smullen retract truthful statements, publicly apologize, and – most outrageously – pay Constantino a cash settlement for daring to speak out after Constantino's allies attacked him for discussing the death of his son. Let that sink in. A lifelong Democrat who switched his registration to try to buy a Republican congressional seat is now demanding that his opponent pay him money to stop telling the truth about him. This letter is beyond the pale, despicable, and the last gasp of a mentally unfit candidate. And the voters of New York's 21st District deserve to know exactly what kind of unethical, immoral man Anthony Constantino is. He Is Running a Shakedown. Constantino's attorney demands that Assemblyman Smullen "compensate Constantino with a sufficient sum to resolve any claims." This is not a good-faith legal dispute. This is a shakedown – a last-ditch attempt by a desperate, flailing candidate to use the legal system to silence a political opponent and extract money he has not earned and does not deserve. Anthony Constantino cannot win on the merits, cannot win on the issues, and cannot win the trust of North Country voters, so he is trying to buy his way to victory and bully his opponent into silence. It will not work. He Surrounds Himself With People Accused of Crimes. Assemblyman Smullen has documented, and multiple credible news outlets have reported, that Anthony Constantino's campaign has worked with and continues to work with individuals accused of and convicted of serious crimes. The New York Times reported on campaign associates accused of murder and inappropriate contact with a child . POLITICO reported on a paid petition gatherer previously convicted of petition fraud . WTEN Channel 10 and other local outlets reported on a campaign associate accused of stealing $3,000 from a youth baseball league. A man who surrounds himself with people like that has no morals. He has no soul. Nothing is off limits for Anthony Constantino – and that makes him unfit to serve the people of New York's 21st District or any district in this country. He Is Attacking a Grieving Father While Demanding Payment. The same man whose allies attacked Assemblyman Smullen for discussing the death of his 14-year-old son – who was killed in a traffic accident in 2024 and gave the gift of life as an organ donor – now has the audacity to demand financial compensation for being called out on it. Constantino's own campaign allies posted on Facebook that Assemblyman Smullen was "using his own dead son as a political prop." Constantino then texted Assemblyman Smullen directly, calling him "a truly evil person" and threatening legal action. And now his attorney is attaching that conduct to a demand for money. That is beyond the pale. That is despicable. That is Anthony Constantino. He Is Mentally Unfit for Office. The behavior documented throughout this campaign speaks for itself. Constantino has called Assemblyman Smullen "evil" in unsolicited text messages. He has threatened to sue the Watertown Daily Times and a reporter personally if they attempted to contact his campaign for comment. He has threatened voters who criticized his business. He has weaponized the legal system against a sitting state legislator, a decorated Marine Corps Colonel, and a grieving father – and he has done all of this while demanding Republican voters send him to Washington. Anthony Constantino is a piece of human scum, and the people of this district can see exactly who he is. The Lies Must Stop. Constantino has defamed Assemblyman Smullen throughout this entire campaign – trafficking in smears, false accusations, and coordinated attacks through his allies and his SuperPAC. Now, faced with the truth about his own record, his own associates, and his own conduct, he has sicced a Florida attorney on his opponent and demanded cash. The lies must stop. The shakedown must stop. And on June 23rd, Anthony Constantino's campaign must stop. Assemblyman Robert Smullen will not be silenced. He will not be shaken down. He will not apologize for telling the truth. And he will not stop fighting for the people of New York's 21st District. "Anthony Constantino is a lifelong Democrat who has spent this entire campaign lying, threatening, and now demanding money from a political opponent he cannot beat on the issues," said Assemblyman Robert Smullen. "This shakedown letter is beyond the pale and despicable – exactly what we have come to expect from a man with no morals, no soul, and no business being anywhere near the United States Congress. I told the truth. I will keep telling the truth. And the voters of New York's 21st District will have the final word on June 23rd." The primary is June 23, 2026. Early voting is underway now. For more information, visit RobertSmullenForCongress.com.

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Lifelong Democrat Anthony Constantino spends the night defending antisemitic merchandise, tax liens, staff scandals -- while Smullen makes the case for NY-21