Jack Ciattarelli, the 2021 Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey has announced he and his wife have separated from each other. The news comes just days after wife Melinda Ciattarelli was spotted at a political campaign event for Ciattarelli’s opponent Bill Spadea.
Spadea is seeking to challenge Ciattarelli in 2025 for the GOP nominee for governor and appears to also be wooing the former candidate’s wife.
According to the New Jersey Globe, Melinda has been palling around with her husband’s opponent, Bill Spadea. The two were spotted together at a Gloucester County GOP event earlier this week.
Ciattarelli downplayed the political involvement with his wife and Spadea, saying the matter is a family matter.
“While there are those who will seek to exploit this news for their own political gain – some going so far as to spread the ugliest of rumors, all of which are untrue – that says more about them than anyone else,” Ciattarelli said. “I will continue to treat this for what it is, a personal and private family matter.”
Ciattarelli announced this week that he and Melinda have been separated since earlier this year.
Spadea did not comment on his relationship with Melinda in light of rumors swirling after her appearance with him this week.
The GOP photo was taken at the “Common Sense New Jersey” luncheon organized by Spadea.
The relationship between Melinda and Spadea is not known at this time.
Melinda is no stranger to political controversy. During the campaign, she went “Jersey Shore” on a political operative in the NJ101.5 green room after King Penna called her husband a loser.
The exchange was caught on video and went viral.
“Hirsh Singh is a loser,” Mrs. Ciattarelli fired back, regarding her then husband’s opponent.
Seeing the opportunity to troll his opponent’s wife, Penna, raised the stakes, calling her husband and “never Trumper who didn’t vote for the President.
“You didn’t even vote in the election, two elections, 16 and 18,” Penna said.
“Bullshit,” the Jersey girl fired as Penna then told Ciattarelli she should throw her kids out of the house, a reference to her husband’s constant mocking of Singh, an Indian American and eldest son remaining home to care for his parents.
“My kids are out of the house, thank you very much,” Ciattarelli responded. “My son’s in the army, you idiot…you imbecile…you’re an arrogant asshole…I don’t want to be anywhere near this piece of shit.”
“You’re a wonderful lady, I can tell,” Penna said.