Press Release: KCRCC Files Defamation Suit Against Cd’A City Counselor
The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) has filed suit in District Court against Dan Gookin for defamation.
The KCRCC appreciates that Gookin is entitled to engage in speech that is protected by the First Amendment. However, his recent statements have crossed the line from protected speech into unprotected defamation because they accuse KCRCC of rigging its 2023 candidate “rating and vetting” process, perpetrating a fraud on its members, and violating campaign finance laws – things which simply have not happened.
Gookin has a long history of being critical of the KCRCC, which is his First Amendment right, but when he makes claims that the KCRCC committed criminal acts he crosses the line into defamation. The KCRCC has every right to defend itself against these false accusations.
In June, the KCRCC established our Legal Defense Fund and retained Harmeet Dhillon of the Dhillon Law Group to be our legal counsel. In this matter, Bryan Smith of Smith, Driscoll & Associates, PLLC will serve as Idaho counsel pro hac vice.
The KCRCC is a political action committee that operates entirely from donations. Because our Legal Defense Fund is separate and used exclusively for legal counsel, donations to the Legal Defense Fund are not reported to the Secretary of State under Idaho Sunshine Laws.
If you wish to donate to the KCRCC Legal Defense Fund click here, or on the button below.