Washington, Dec 04: An American Muslim advocacy group has filed a defamation lawsuit against North Carolina Rep. Cass ballenger, who accused the group of funding terrorists and breaking up his 50-year marriage over the stress of living nearby. The council on American-Islamic relations, which promotes Muslim civil rights, said it filed the lawsuit against the 76-year-old Republican in the US District Court for the district of Columbia. Ballenger said in an October interview with the Charlotte Observer that the Council, located across the street from his Capitol Hill home, was a "fund-raising arm" for terrorist groups. He said he had reported the group to the CIA and FBI. Ballenger announced earlier this week that he will retire after completing his ninth term in Congress next year,
The Council denies any ties to Middle Eastern groups linked to terrorism. The lawsuit claims Ballenger's statements harmed the Council's reputation and were not protected speech because he made them in an interview rather than in his role as a member of Congress.



Ballenger's spokesman Preston Hartman said officials in the Congressman's office had not seen the lawsuit, and had no immediate comment.


Bureau Report