Christopher Lyon
Encyclopedia
Christopher Lyon is an opposition researcher
who has worked for Republican
party candidates in New York
, Virginia
, New Jersey
, and on the national level.
In 2000, Lyon worked for New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate Jeffrey Howard, and distributed flyers accusing opponent Gordon Humphrey's wife of being a member of an orgasm
cult
. The New Hampshire
state Attorney General issued a cease-and-desist letter against Lyon for failing to disclose his campaign activities.
During the 2006 New Jersey Senate
campaign, Lyon's work as a subcontractor on the campaign of Republican Tom Kean Jr. earned that campaign additional public scrutiny. Lyon's opposition research for the Kean campaign included work on a swiftboat-style movie said to show the complicity of Democratic incumbent Senator Bob Menendez in a 1980s case of corruption. That movie was never made, however.
In February 2007, another high-profile piece of Lyon's work surfaced at the website The Smoking Gun
. A memo prepared for the 1993 campaign of Rudy Giuliani
for Mayor of New York City
details Giuliani's potential political vulnerabilities on issues such as race, social stances, and his personal "weirdness factor".
Opposition researcher
Opposition researchers are paid political consultants who research potentially damaging information about their employer's opponent. ....
who has worked for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
party candidates in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and on the national level.
In 2000, Lyon worked for New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate Jeffrey Howard, and distributed flyers accusing opponent Gordon Humphrey's wife of being a member of an orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
. The New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state Attorney General issued a cease-and-desist letter against Lyon for failing to disclose his campaign activities.
During the 2006 New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
campaign, Lyon's work as a subcontractor on the campaign of Republican Tom Kean Jr. earned that campaign additional public scrutiny. Lyon's opposition research for the Kean campaign included work on a swiftboat-style movie said to show the complicity of Democratic incumbent Senator Bob Menendez in a 1980s case of corruption. That movie was never made, however.
In February 2007, another high-profile piece of Lyon's work surfaced at the website The Smoking Gun
The Smoking Gun
The Smoking Gun is a website that posts legal documents, arrest records, and police mugshots on a daily basis. The intent is to bring to the public light information that is damning, shocking, outrageous, or amazing, yet also somewhat obscure or unreported by more mainstream media sources...
. A memo prepared for the 1993 campaign of Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
for Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
details Giuliani's potential political vulnerabilities on issues such as race, social stances, and his personal "weirdness factor".