Florida politics: Andrew Gillum threatens to sue over ‘false’ GOP attack ad

On Thursday, the Gillum campaign worked with counsel Glenn Burhans, Jr. calling on television stations running the “demonstrably false” campaign spot, sending a cease-and-desist letter.

Andrew Gillum

The ad is “demonstrably false,” Burhans Jr. in the letter, saying that the campaign “will take all available resources to prevent the spread of the false and defamatory advertisement.”

Burhans wrote that the attack ad badly exaggerates and misstates the articles cited as source material for statements claiming the mayor is under investigation, took “illegal trips” to New York and Costa Rica with lobbyists and “refuses to disclose who’s paid him.”

“In short, the advertisement constitutes libel and slander of the worst sort,” Burhans wrote.

The ad, paid for by the Republican Party of Florida and a GOP spokeswoman said the party stands by the ad.

“Andrew Gillum is running for Governor and also from the FBI” combined with “Andrew Gillum FBI Investigation.” The campaign cited reports that the FBI has told Gillum he is not the subject of an investigation.

FACT CHECK

It’s unclear what is the extent of Gillum’s exposure in the FBI investigation. Friend and lobbyist Adam Corey appears to be Gillum’s closest link to the case, but documents indicate the FBI inquiry is wide in scope. Especially before charges are filed, it can be difficult to see how this truly links to Gillum.

Even if Gillum is not implicated in the government’s case, it would be unusual for the FBI to officially clear him, said Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews, who’s previously worked with subjects of FBI investigations.

Corey also arranged a weekend meet up later that year in New York City, where he, Gillum, and at least two of the undercover FBI agents took a boat ride and may or may not have attended a Mets game and seen Hamilton.

That trip remains the subject of a state ethics probe.

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Butter Bracco - Roxanne "Butter" Bracco began with the Dispatch as Pittsburgh Correspondent, but will be providing reports and insights from Washington DC, Maryland and the surrounding region. Contact Roxie aka "Butter" at [email protected] ATTN: Roxie or Butter Bracco