“It is outrageous that Richard has decided to personally attack my wife and to fabricate so many claims against her,” Tierney responded in a statement. “Patrice is a grandmother, mother, and aunt who, in caring for her nieces and nephews, made an error in judgment. She accepted full responsibility and has paid the price. Patrice is not running for Congress and she should not be used as Richard Tisei’s personal punching bag.”

Tisei said today that Eremian’s statements raise questions about the congressman’s “fitness to serve.”

“It obviously confirms what the voters of the district realize and that is, there is no way that John Tierney could not have had knowledge as to what was going on,” Tisei said.

A Tierney spokesman did not immediately return a call for comment.