New York Assemblyman Robert Smullen is heading straight into the gutter – attempting to recast Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino as a cop hater, tax dodger and a secret Trump hater in an attempt to steal the Republican primary for the open House seat in New York’s 21st Congressional District.
Smullen launched a website with misleading and exaggerated claims about Constantino’s record, which were amplified by reports from the fake news Times Union of Albany. Constantino is planning to launch a defamation lawsuit against Smullen over the claims spread by his campaign.
In his smear campaign, Smullen accused Constantino of selling controversial stickers that were in actuality produced and sold by other people, who are granted the 1st Amendment freedom to sell what they wish on Constantino’s innovative and versatile StickerMule platform.
Constantino was incredulously called a Democrat and a secret Trump hater by Smullen as well. This is particularly ridiculous as Constantino gained national prominence during President Trump’s 2024 campaign after he put forward the world’s largest “VOTE FOR TRUMP” sign on the roof of StickerMule headquarters in Amsterdam, New York.
Local Democrat city officials threatened to jail Constantino if he refused to remove the sign. He refused to comply and took his city to court, winning a crucial case for the 1st Amendment. Few did more during the 2024 campaign to more boldly support President Trump than Constantino with his business frequently attacked and boycotted by far-left extremists throughout the presidential year.
Perhaps the most brazen and appalling accusation from Smullen is that Constantino is a tax dodger. Constantino provided his tax receipts showing that he actually paid $10 million more than what was necessary in taxes. Constantino posted a picture of his U.S. Treasury reimbursement check worth $8.3 million that is the second-largest reported reimbursement in U.S. history behind President Trump’s own $72.9-million reimbursement in 2010.
Meanwhile, Smullen has an actual conviction for tax-related crimes on his record. Smullen was charged with a felony for filing documentation allowing him to receive military property tax relief at two residences.
Prosecutors alleged that Smullen lied on a veteran’s exemption form in 2016 that a Niskayuna home was his primary residence. This exemption, which also used Smullen’s disability status, knocked $105,000 off of his home’s 2017 assessment. Smullen had previously declared a veteran’s exemption on a Johnstown home, which was also listed as his primary residence.
In other words, Smullen pulled a Leticia James. He eventually negotiated the felony tax fraud charge down to a misdemeanor and took a guilty plea, even though Smullen never took responsibility for his actions and claims instead that he was a victim of politics.
Smullen’s attempts to go on the offense against Constantino reek of desperation, as Constantino self-funds his campaign to the tune of $7.6 million. Constantino is showing that he will never be beholden to the Washington D.C. swamp while he is in office. Meanwhile, the establishment is scrambling to prop up Smullen but to no avail. Polls show Constantino holding a commanding lead over Smullen heading into the June primary.
