Rep. Josh Gottheimer is denouncing a letter mailed to elected officials in recent days that purports to be one from Gottheimer announcing his resignation because of a personal scandal.

The entire content of the letter is "completely untrue," the Democrat from Wyckoff said in a statement on Monday.

"This disgusting smear campaign is a violation of federal law and is being criminally investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police," he said. "I am confident that they will quickly identify and pursue charges against the perpetrators responsible for this crime."

The one-page letter is dated July 29 and appears to be on official congressional letterhead. It includes a signature that does not match those found on Gottheimer letters his office has released in the past.

The letter falsely claims the congressman had a sexual relationship with a staffer.

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It is a federal crime to impersonate a federal official and misuse a federal seal. A Capitol Police spokeswoman declined to comment.

Bob Sommer, a Democratic strategist who is a friend of Gottheimer's, sounded confident that the person who created the letter and distributed it will be caught.

"You have to be pretty Russian to get away with this," Sommer said.

The July 29 letter is the second one involving Gottheimer to be mailed in the past week. The first purported to be from one of his staff members.

"I am outraged that a dedicated member of my staff has been dragged into this cowardly attack on me," Gottheimer said.

It’s not clear how many elected officials received the newest letter, which dropped in mailboxes just as Gottheimer, a Democrat who represents the 5th Congressional District, got word of a new challenger from his own party. Glen Rock Councilwoman Arati Kreibich announced Monday that she will oppose Gottheimer in the 2020 primary.

Email: mcdonaldt@northjersey.com