Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, has taken a US-based Ghanaian journalist, Kevin Taylor, and his media firm, Loud Silence, to court for alleged defamatory remarks made against him.
Ken Agyapong is seeking USD $9.5 million in damages from Mr. Taylor.
The MP’s suit was influenced, according to a fifteen-page court document filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, by a series of “false and defamatory statements in a series of videos and an email correspondence published by Defendants (Keven Taylor and Loud Silence Media) via Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms about Plaintiff.”
It claimed that the defendant, Kevin Taylor, and his organization had referred to the plaintiff on multiple occasions as a “murderer, drug dealer, and drug addict, thief, and green card fraudster.”
“The factual background given in support of the action states among others that the defendants till date continue to repeat these false and defamatory statements about Plaintiff on their social media platforms and other news outlets or platforms have also shared or republished Defendants’ false statements.
“These false and defamatory statements have caused severe harm to Plaintiff’s personal, business, and political reputation. Plaintiff has also suffered severe embarrassment and personal humiliation due to Defendants’ defamatory statements” portions of the suit said.
Mr. Agyapong’s action further claims that “Defendants’ factual assertions to the contrary are false, offensive, and damage Plaintiff’s reputation as an MP.”
The politician is therefore asking the Virginia court for seven (7) reliefs, including an order barring Kevin Taylor and his organization from making any more defamatory statements on any media outlet and an apology from the latter.
Kevin Taylor is well-known for his criticism of those in positions of authority.
While some admire him for what he accomplishes, others believe that his excesses outweigh the benefits.
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