CINNAMINSON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A New Jersey Republican congressional candidate who drew praise from conservatives in 2020 for defying Gov. Phil Murphy's COVID mandates at his Bellmawr gym was charged with drunk diving and other offenses early Sunday.
Ian Smith, who is seeking the GOP nomination in the 3rd District, passed a sobriety test but was charged with a DUI because he refused to take a breath test when he was pulled over in Cinnaminson, according to Smith's campaign consultant, Steve Kush.
Kush defended Smith's refusal to take the breathalyzer, calling it "understandable."
"Ian has a distrust of government in New Jersey after being persecuted by the Governor and government agencies for two years," he said in a statement. "He's certainly not the first public figure not to trust a breathalyzer."
Smith is facing charges for driving under the influence, refusing to take a breath test, as well as charges for reckless driving, careless driving, failure to observe marked traffic lanes and delaying traffic.
On Tuesday, Kush also called for the release of body camera footage.
"Being charged with an offense and actually committing an offense are two entirely different things. Ian Smith was not driving drunk. lan Smith is innocent," he added. "Body cam footage will show Ian passed a field sobriety test. The Cinnaminson police department should immediately release the body cam footage to every news outlet immediately."
Kush told The New Jersey Globe on Monday that the stop happened because his truck swerved in high winds and he refused the breathalyzer because he feared the officer wanted to set him up.
NJ Advance Media reports that Smith has a prior conviction for drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter for a 2007 crash that killed a 19-year-old man in Galloway.
He now has a scheduled court date for April 14 in Cinnaminson Municipal Court.
"Ian will have his day in court and will be vindicated," Kush said. "The only question is will the government do everything in its power to delay lan's court date. I hope not."
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