(Ottawa) MP Han Dong follows through on his threat and files a defamation lawsuit, claiming $15 million from Global News, some of his reporters, and his parent company, Corus Entertainment, for implying he was in the pay of Beijing.
The Toronto lawmaker, who left the Liberal caucus on March 22, announced his intention to go to court after the network published allegations that he advised the Chinese consul in Toronto to delay the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
“The defendants published malicious, false and defamatory articles and reports about Mr. Dong, which demolished his reputation and hard-earned career, in addition to exposing him and his family to threats and to hate messages,” read the statement from his attorney.
In the lawsuit filed Thursday in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, he seeks jointly and severally against each defendant damages of $5 million, aggravated damages of $5 million and punitive damages in the amount of 5 million.
Because they “told the public, directly and by insinuation”, that the now independent elected official “is an agent of the People’s Republic of China”, that he used “illegitimate tactics to win elections”, and that he wanted to keep the two Michaels in prison, it reads.
The MP signaled his intention to sue Global News in an interview with The Globe and Mail in late March. In the same article, the daily claimed to have been made aware of the allegations against Han Dong and then determined that they were not strong enough to publish.
The Global News network reported, based on two confidential security sources, that Han Dong suggested to the Chinese consul general in Toronto, Han Tao, that Beijing wait before releasing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were then arbitrarily detained. in China for more than two years.
“As a parliamentarian and as a person, I have never – and never would have – supported or advocated for the violation of the fundamental rights of any Canadian, or anyone anywhere, period,” defended the principal concerned in his speech of resignation from the liberal caucus.