Londonderry newspaper publisher charged with illegal political advertising

LONDONDERRY - The publisher of a Londonderry newspaper was arrested on Wednesday for alleged improper political advertising.

The state AG's office charged Debra A. Paul. 62. of Londonderry, with six misdemeanor counts related tor publishing political advertisements that did not comply with state election laws.

The charges filed against Ms. Paul are for violations of RSA 664:16, Identification of Political Advertising, a misdemeanor. The charges allege Paul failed to properly identify political advertisements that she published in her newspaper, the Londonderry Times, with appropriate language either at the beginning or the end of the advertisement as required.

Paul was previously investigated and warned against such conduct on two prior occasions by the Attorney General's Office Election Law Unit. Those instances ended with formal letters being issued to her in 2019 and 2021. A 'final warning' letter issued by the Election Law Unit in September warned Paul that all political advertising must be properly labeled as such in her publication.

Class A misdemeanor charges carry a maximum penalty of up to one year at the county house of correction and a fine of up to $2,000.

An arraignment has been scheduled in Derry District Court for Oct 19.