Janine Materna (pictured) says her 2016 run for Congress was derailed by a fake social media profile and wants to see charges laid
A woman who ran for state Assembly in 2016 says her campaign was derailed by a fake social media profile.
And now Janine Materna, 34, wants charges pressed over the creation of the page, which was allegedly run by New York lawyer Richard Luthmann, The New York Daily News reported.
The Staten Island woman said she was subject to threats from voters as a result of the Facebook page, which aimed to mimic her, but twist her opinions to anger potential voters.
The page made comments about Materna’s positive thoughts on homeless shelters in some areas and desire to ‘kill the Second Ammendment’.
Not only was she subject to threats from angry voters, but she lost her run at the assembly by a 35 per cent margin.
Materna said she was ‘failed’ by Facebook, and after she filed a police report, she was again ‘failed’ by prosecutors.
‘Facebook failed me. Prosecutors have failed me and something needs to be done. This shouldn’t be happening and I’m very disappointed,’ she said.
Materna says she received threats from voters after a Facebook page similar to her official page was created, and shared opinions on homeless shelters and the second amendment under her name that she did not agree with
The page is alleged to have been created by New York lawyer Richard Luthmann (pictured) after private messages between him and an opposing candidate were leaked
Her lawyer, Andrew Stengel says in the current political climate, he is shocked Materna’s report has not been followed up on.
‘In a season where we’re all screaming about Russia taking over elections, why isn’t it a big deal here in New York?’ he said.
Luthmann was accused of being the creator of the page in August 2017 after private messages between he and opposing candidate Ron Castorina were obtained by NY1.
‘Janine Materna filed a committee,’ Castorina is seen telling the lawyer.
‘Time for a fake Janine Materna site…’ Luthmann responded, before asking: ‘Is there a picture of her with Hillary?’
‘I’m looking for one,’ Castorina replies.
Materna says she has been failed by Facebook and prosecutors and wants to see Luthmann charged for his alleged actions
The next day, Luthmann took to Facebook to claim attorney-client privilege on the conversation and appeared to concede he had published the page.
‘Ron had nothing to do with the #BitterJanineMaterna Facebook page,’ he wrote in a lengthy explanation published to his Facebook.
‘I created it myself after I saw how upset Ron’s mother became when harassing mail arrived at her house sent by a #BitterJanineMaterna campaign operative. This made Ron upset and angry.
‘I was pissed about this #BitterJanineMaterna trick and decided – unilaterally and acting alone – that I would devise a real #DirtyTrick and school the #BitterJanineMaterna campaign as to a real #DirtyTrick.
‘And yes, on Primary night last year, they felt as bad as Ron’s mom did that day in her kitchen with a strange, threatening, and harassing envelope in her hands.’
Ron Castorina won the election uncontested after beating Materna in the Republican primary.
Materna has returned to her job as a senior business consultant.
Luthmann has not formally confirmed he was behind the fake page, but shared a lengthy explanation to Facebook friends the day after his private messages regarding the page were leaked
Luthmann made headlines in 2016 after requesting a judge allow him to face trial by combat.
The New York lawyer was the defendant in a case where it was alleged he helped a client hide money from his creditors.
After a frustrating start to the trial, he requested the judge allow it to be prosecuted by combat, which the judge ruled was a legal method of settling disputes in New York.
Unfortunately for Luthmann, who had already planned how he would win the fight, the judge did not grant the request.
Luthmann has not formally confessed to setting up the Facebook page, nor has he been charged over its existence.
The statute of limitations for charges to be laid will run out in September.
DailyMail.com has contacted both Materna and Luthmann for comment.
Pictured: Luthmann shared a lengthy explanation with Facebook followers the day after he was accused of setting up the page