Medford New Jersey Mayor Denies Allegations He Hired Male Prostitute; Republican Chris Myers On Record As Opposing Military Policy Prohibiting Openly Gay Service Personal

"Writing that it “has a responsibility and duty to inform you about significant issues involving our public officials, The Burlington New Jersey County Times published a story about a California man alleges on a website that he was promised a car and other gifts following a paid sexual encounter with Medford’s mayor. Mayor Chris Myers vehemently denies the accusation. Myers is the subject of a website started by the man who claims he was paid $500 for sex with the former congressional candidate from the 3rd District. The man claims the sexual encounter took place at an Orange County, California, hotel in October 2010. He claims in emails and on the website that he’s publicizing the alleged encounter because Myers reneged on his promises. The man has refused to identify himself. “This is absolutely crazy. I have no idea who this person is,” Myers said Thursday. “Obviously, we’re dealing with a crackpot and someone who is pissed off at me in some way. There are crazy people.” The man said Myers identified himself as a mayor from New Jersey and offered his township identification card and gold ID shield as proof during the early-morning meeting at the Fairmount Hotel in Newport Beach. The website — www.mayormyers.webs.com, which is now down — has photos that show a man who appears to be Myers in his underwear lying on a bed, as well as other photos of him and personal IDs. Myers, who is serving his third elected term as mayor, said he learned of the photos and the website this month when an email was sent to the township website. He said he has not looked at the man’s website. While angry that the accusations have been posted on the Internet, Myers said his attorney has advised him that there is nothing he can do to get the site taken down. “I will check again, but I’ve been told to ignore it and not investigate,” he said. “I’m thoroughly disgusted at the lengths people will go to.” Myers’ attorney, Hersh Kozlov of Duane Morris in Cherry Hill, said his client denies all claims on the website and doesn’t know why he has been targeted. “It’s an irresponsible activity by an unknown person,” Kozlov said. “It’s defamatory speech by someone who didn’t have the courage to identify him or herself. It’s purely anonymous speech.” He said because Myers doesn’t know the source of the website, he has little recourse in getting the site taken down. “Few things are impossible, but it is very difficult to identify the ultimate source,” Kozlov said. “If I could, I would sue him or her, but he or she can hide behind the anonymity of the Internet. I would be suing a ghost.” Myers, a vice president at defense contractor Lockheed-Martin in Moorestown, has been on the Medford Council for nearly 10 years. He ran a heated race for Congress in 2008, narrowly losing to Democrat John Adler.