BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

LISBON — Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino and Democratic opponent Blake Gendebien are trading accusations over an investigation involving Gendebien’s dairy farm which has not resulted in any official action from law enforcement.

New York State Police confirmed that a complaint involving Gendebien remains under investigation, according to a report Monday by the New York Post.

A State Police spokesperson told the newspaper that “the matter remains under investigation.”

However, Gendebien's campaign says a recent inspection of the property by the Department of Environmental Conservation found no wrongdoing or illegal practices.

Constantino claims Gendebien dumped garbage and polluted a public waterway and pointed to federal and state laws he believes could apply to the allegations, including portions of the federal Clean Water Act and New York’s Agriculture and Markets Law. 

The campaign also raised questions about the employment and housing of unauthorized workers.

But there is no finding from the State Police that Gendebien committed a crime and no criminal charges have been announced.

Gendebien’s campaign said the state Department of Environmental Conservation previously inspected the farm, found no violations and closed its complaint weeks ago.

The dispute came into public view again Monday when Constantino held a news conference in Colonie about the farm. 

Gendebien’s campaign called the news conference a distraction from issues it says matter more to North Country voters, including fuel and heating costs, tariffs and rural hospital services.

“We’re excited for this weird and sad man to get back to the sticker business in 28 days,” said Michael Waller, Gendebien’s campaign manager. “Anthony Constantino has been handed every advantage in this race, and he’s spending the final month of it flying drones over a dairy farm because he has no solutions to bring costs down for North Country families. Blake will be out talking to voters. Anthony can keep talking to his investigators.”

Waller said Gendebien has been talking with voters about diesel prices, heating oil and rural health care.