A lawyer for 7th Congressional candidate La Shawn K. Ford sent a cease-and-desist order to a crypto currency funded PAC March 10, demanding it stop producing and disseminating video and print political attack ads containing what it calls “false, misleading, and defamatory statements” against Ford.
According to the AdImpact group of Alexandria, Virginia, as of March 6, the cryptocurrency funded PAC, Fairshake, of St. Paul, Minnesota, has spent $1.92 million on video and printed mailer attack ads suggesting Illinois State Rep. Ford (D-8) was convicted of felonies related to bank fraud, that he has been part of a pattern of corruption and had engaged in “misuse of power” while serving in the Illinois General Assembly.
Also addressed in letter were two Chicago television stations which have broadcast the political ad in question.
Attorney Joseph Reyna said his 3-page letter “serves as formal notice that we have reason to believe you are directly or indirectly publishing, funding, sponsoring or distributing advertisements and materials containing false, misleading, and defamatory statements.”
Reyna said Ford is “a highly respected citizen and esteemed member of
the Illinois House of Representatives,” and that Ford has never, as alleged in the video, “been involved in ‘A Pattern of Corruption,’ has never been tried on, convicted of, or pled guilty to ’17 federal felony counts of fraud,’ has never “used his power and position to try to hide his fraud and self-dealing,’ (and) has never ‘filed a resolution in the legislature to keep his colleagues quiet and stop them from commenting to the press.’”
Reyna said he was giving Fairshake the chance to acknowledge in writing that they will in fact cease “this tortious conduct.”
In the event that Fairshake does not cease its “dissemination of these false, misleading and defamatory statements,” Reyna wrote, “actual malice will be inferred.”
Reyna concluded his letter demanding that Fairshake preserve “all documents, electronic data and items that may be related to potential litigation.”
Ford has previously responded forcefully to the 30 second ad, calling the funding behind the attack “blood money.” Ford said such tactics are “harmful to our democracy,” and said he was targeted by Fairshake because of his vote in the Illinois House to regulate the crypto currency industry.
On Wednesday Ford called the allegations and insinuations in the Fairshake ads “false,” while acknowledging that they could damage him politically.
“It could be so damaging to my reputation,” Ford said. “It could have an impact on the outcome of the election.”
Ford said he’s comfortable with where’s he’s at in internal polling, which he said shows him leading his nearest rival, City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, with 18 percent still undecided.
“I’m in first place by at least five points,” he said, adding that he was comfortable he would at least “split” undecided voters and add to his lead.
According to AdImpact’s analysis, Conyears-Ervin has also benefitted from a total of $5.15 million in support ads paid for by PACs.
Ford said he intended to stay with the issue of political ads that portray candidates in “a false light” when he returns to Springfield after the primary on March 17. He acknowledged being “not sure (as yet) exactly what we can do,” but said he intended to look into possible legislation to address the issue.
“Regardless of what happens with this election, I’ll (stay with this),” he said. “I think because this falls under state’s rights, we should have the ability to control our elections.”
