Fernandez Hit With Defamation Lawsuit For Suggesting Finchem And Kern Engaged In Insurrection
House Democratic Caucus Leader Charlene Fernandez (D-LD4) was sued Friday for defamation by Rep. Mark Finchem and former state representative Anthony Kern, with all of the parties named in their personal, not legislative, capacity.
Finchem (R-LD11) and Kern contend Fernandez signed and publicly released a criminal referral letter she and other Democrats sent to Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and FBI Director Christopher Wray seeking an investigation into Finchem, Kern, and others. The Jan. 12 letter stated there “is evidence to indicate” the men “encouraged, facilitated, participated and possibly helped plan” the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The referral letter also said Finchem and Kern -who served LD20 from January 2015 to January 2021- may have “engaged in insurrection and rebellion.”
Finchem and Kern are asking a judge with the Yuma County Superior Court to order Fernandez, who lives in Yuma County, to publish “a full retraction of the false and malicious allegations” contained in the criminal referral. Their lawsuit also calls for an award of financial damages, attorneys’ fees, court costs, and “such further relief as the Court deems just.”
Read more: https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2021/02/26/fernandez-hit-with-defamation-lawsuit-for-suggesting-finchem-and-kern-engaged-in-insurrection/