Rep. Mike Thompson and Former Aides Dispute Eric Jones Campaign Ad

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson and seven of his former congressional staff members have disputed claims made in a campaign advertisement by Democratic challenger Eric Jones ahead of the Nov. 3 election in California’s 4th Congressional District, according to a report by Patch Napa Valley.

California’s 4th Congressional District encompasses large portions of Napa and Sonoma counties, including Napa Valley, Sonoma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, and most of Santa Rosa. Thompson, 75, who has served 14 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, faces Jones, a 35-year-old venture capitalist who has pledged to serve no more than 12 years if elected.

Dispute Over Former Staffer Endorsement and Group Photograph

The advertisement features TJ Adams-Falconer, Thompson’s former communications director, endorsing Jones and claiming that Thompson told him directly that he intended to remain in office for life. The ad also displays a photograph of Adams-Falconer standing beside Thompson and other congressional staff members.

On Saturday, seven former Thompson aides—including former legislative director Crozer Connor and former deputy chief of staff Jennifer Goedke—sent a protest letter, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, disputing Adams-Falconer’s claim about Thompson’s tenure plans and accusing the Jones campaign of using their photograph without their knowledge or permission.

Responses From Both Campaigns

In a statement issued Sunday, Thompson denied making the remark attributed to him by Adams-Falconer and criticized the advertisement’s use of the staff photo.

“Politics is divisive enough right now without people making up stuff and using imagery without people’s permission,” Thompson said. “It’s everything that is wrong with politics.”

Jones’ campaign staff told the Chronicle that the former staffers’ faces were blurred at their request, and cited a different version of the advertisement.