Indicted GOP official claiming hoarding disorder in tax case

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - An attorney for a powerful state Republican party official charged with tax evasion says his client suffers from a hoarding disorder.

The claim is contained in a court filing last month in the case of longtime Ocean County Republican chairman George Gilmore.

Gilmore was charged in January and is scheduled for a federal trial this month. He faces six counts, the most serious of which carries a five-year maximum prison sentence. He has pleaded not guilty.

Attorney Kevin Marino notified the judge that an expert report in November concludes Gilmore meets the criteria for hoarding disorder.

The indictment alleges Gilmore spent lavishly on collectibles and luxury items during a time when he failed to pay taxes totaling more than $1 million and lied on a loan application.