Report: House Candidate McGuire hit ex-wife, dismissed from NYPD
A scathing NYPD report details a harrowing incident involving the congressional hopeful.
Burlington County - An unearthed 2008 NYPD memorandum details a disciplinary hearing of Congressional District 3 candidate Michael McGuire where he was investigated for hitting his ex-wife as she held his child.
The report interviewed five of McGuire’s colleagues related to the June 7, 2-005 incident. According to the report, McGuire’s ex-wife went to pick up their son during his visitation day and McGuire demanded she leave upon her arrival. At the time of the incident, McGuire did not custody of his son. His ex-wife , according the report, “would not leave and [McGuire] became aggressive and started to curse at her.” Their son was seated in McGuire’s car, whereupon his ex-wife went to retrieve him. McGuire hit his wife twice with what felt like a closed fist, per his ex-wife who did not see his hand. She sustained a black eye as a result, the report notes.
McGuire’s neighbor at the time witnessed the incident as she was talking to another neighbor who noted that McGuire was actively blocking his ex-wife from retrieving her son and struck her as she held the child and could not defend herself, the report notes. McGuire was arrested for harassment in the second degree. At the time, he denied striking his ex-wife.
The report notes that McGuire’s ex-wife “appeared in court once to say that she did not wish to proceed with the case against him” and that she later failed to appear at sub sequent court dates. The criminal case against McGuire was ultimately dismissed. The report went on to say:
”Finally, it is important to note that accepting [ex-wife’s] version of the incident as accurate is not inconsistent with the fact that the criminal case against [McGuire] was not dismissed on its merits, but rather because (as in this trial), [ex-wife] did not appear in court.”
McGuire, who served in the Marine Corps prior to joining the NYPD, ultimately pled guilty to the altercation, as well as multiple other violations, including failing to secure his department ID, failing to maintain a valid driver’s license or notify his commanding officer of its suspension, and disregarding instructions regarding reporting late and assignment location. McGuire admitted to going AWOL from duty five times, including one full tour and approximately eleven hours of tardiness across four occasions. McGuire cited personal hardships as contributing factors to the incidents, despite the violations occurring repeatedly over a nine-month period.
The NYPD recommended that McGuire be ultimately dismissed from the NYPD, but that said dismissal be held in abeyance for a period of year. McGuire remained on the force solely at the discretion of the Police Commissioner.
McGuire, now a family law attorney with Weinberger Divorce and Family Law Group, LLC, is joined in the race by perennial candidate Justin Barbera of Southampton, who has his own run-ins with the law related to family matters. The New Jersey Globe reported that Barbera spent a night in jail in Salem County for failing to pay child support. He previously faced charges of theft and criminal mischief, and was escorted by security out of a May 20, 2025 gubernatorial debate after demanding to be included in post-debate press gaggles with one attendee saying he threatened to storm the stage.
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