A Democrat running for Congress in Pennsylvania is threatening to sue her Republican rival after his campaign released an attack ad accusing her of exposing her naked body to a neighbor's grandchild.
Janelle Stelson, a former television news anchor, has denied the allegation in a 30-second commercial approved by Republican Rep. Scott Perry, who narrowly defeated her in the 2024 election.
The ad, released Monday, features accusations from Stelson's neighbor, Sharon Orr, who claims the Democrat was seen outside her home with her breasts and buttocks exposed in front of a minor.
The allegations remain unsubstantiated, but Perry's campaign has used them to question Stelson's suitability for public office.
The commercial opens with Perry approving the message before a narrator declares that his Democratic challenger is 'not fit to serve.'
Stelson's campaign manager, Alma Baker, told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday that the congressional hopeful is considering filing a defamation lawsuit against Perry.
'This false accusation is a pathetic, desperate attempt by Scott Perry to rescue his failing campaign, with easily disproven lies,' Baker said.
Baker also pointed to Stelson's career in television news, saying the candidate 'had been a victim of stalking and harassment' over the years.
Janelle Stelson has denied the allegation in a 30-second commercial approved by Republican Rep. Scott Perry
The controversy stems from claims made by Orr, who alleges she witnessed Stelson walking outside her property naked in August.
Orr claimed the congressional candidate had been 'walking around outdoors in the public sphere' with 'her breasts and buttocks fully exposed and in plain sight of my minor age grandchild who lives with me.'
She alleged that she photographed the encounter before contacting police.
But the alleged photograph has not been made public, and Perry campaign spokesperson Matt Beynon acknowledged Wednesday that he had never seen it.
Orr also claimed to have spotted Stelson outside her home earlier in the summer wearing only a shirt and underwear.
She said the alleged incidents concerned her because her grandchild is on the autism spectrum and 'mirrors behaviors and actions.'
Perry's campaign provided a written statement to The Inquirer outlining her accusations.
The document was headed 'Affadavit,' a misspelling of affidavit, although it was unclear whether the statement had been formally sworn.
Democrats have accused Perry of trying to damage Stelson's reputation with unsubstantiated allegations
An East Pennsboro Township police lieutenant confirmed to the outlet that officers were dispatched to Stelson's home over the summer.
The allegations have surfaced in the final stretch of a closely watched congressional rematch in central Pennsylvania, where Perry is fighting to retain the seat he has held for seven terms.
Democrats have accused Perry of trying to damage Stelson's reputation with unsubstantiated allegations.
'We are seeing Republicans across the country run despicable, blatantly false ads in the closing days of this election because they know they're about to lose,' Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Eli Cousin told The Inquirer.
Perry's campaign has continued to stand by Orr's statement, despite the absence of any publicly released photograph supporting her allegations.
Meanwhile, Stelson has rejected the accusations outright, with her campaign weighing whether to take the Republican congressman to court.
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