GOP leader's firm pulls wording about sex assault defendants

WESTFIELD, N.J. (AP) — The top elected Republican in this year's Assembly race says his law firm is changing language on its website that says it would work to "discredit" sexual assault accusers and help other clients get their names off a state sex offender registry.

Jon Bramnick is the Assembly minority leader as well as a personal injury attorney. His firm also handles criminal cases, including defending sexual assault defendants.

The wording on the firm's website came to light after the New Jersey Globe published articles on it, leading Bramnick to pull the language. It also led to rebukes from Democrats, including Gov. Phil Murphy, who called the language "disgusting."

At issue in part is concern over not believing women's accounts of sexual assault.

Bramnick says the language was written by an outside vendor and was being reworked because it was "poorly written."