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State Senate Campaign:Bowen Kou Files Defamation Suits

    Florida State Senate candidate Bown Kou has filed defamation lawsuits against a conservative website and a state senate election committee after a campaign flyer distributed last week called into question the intentions of some of Kou’s supporters.
    Kou filed separate cases against Florida’s Voice, a conservative media outlet, and the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, which distributed the flyer on behalf of Kou’s primary opponent, Keith Truenow.  The flyer brings into question the background of some of Kou’s supporters, implying they are Chinese nationals or at least of Chinese descent, while the flyer also includes quotes about foreign interference in U.S. elections.
    "I have never received any political donations from China or members of the CCP. I had to flee communist China because they persecuted me for my Christian beliefs," stated Kou in a release announcing the lawsuits. "These allegations sicken me, and I am disheartened that Truenow and the Florida Senate Caucus would attack me, a fellow Republican based on my heritage, I am an American of Asian descent!”
    Kou stated the mailer inaccurately states that 80% of his donations come from outside of Florida, with a significant portion allegedly from China due to the fact that some of his donors are Americans of Asian descent.
    "The FRSCC’s actions are malicious and baseless," added Kou. "They have endorsed my primary opponent and are working to undermine my campaign through these false allegations."
    Kou said Florida’s Voice recently posted an article claiming he is a Chinese National, and a foreign citizen.  Kou claims American citizenship in his filing and also denies any ties to foreign communist governments.
    In the case against Florida’s Voice, Kou is seeking $1 million in damages and a trial by jury.
    In the case against the FRSCC, Kou cites a graphic in the FRSCC flyer appearing to show he is receiving funding from China.  In that case, also, Kou is seeking $1 million in damages and a trial by jury.
    In both cases, Kou is being represented by area attorney Anthony Sabatini, who is also chairman of the Lake County Republican Party.
    The lawsuits follow a suit filed in June in the race for Property Appraiser, where incumbent Carey Baker has filed suit against Mark Jordan's candidacy and the Supervisor of Elections Office over a last-minute filing by Jordan.