Which Republican candidate supports President Trump more? An Ohio candidate for U.S. Senate is suing to settle that question, just days before the May 8 primary.
Cleveland investment banker Mike Gibbons filed a lawsuit against rival candidate U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, who’s been endorsed by Donald Trump, alleging that the Congressman and his campaign have falsely charged he is anti-Trump.
"Renacci has repeatedly advertised lies and falsehoods about Gibbons and his positions on the issues," says a statement from the Gibbons campaign. "The suit notes that Renacci's actions were done with knowledge of their falsity and with reckless disregard."
Gibbons also charges in the complaint filed Friday in Cuyahoga County that Renacci has claimed Gibbons is a liberal who would vote for abortion rights. Gibbons wants a judge to order a halt to "defamatory statements" and more than $1 million in damages.
"Continued publication will result in irreparable harm to Gibbons' reputation as an honest, trustworthy, pro-life, conservative candidate and supporter of President Trump," states the suit.
Trump recently endorsed Renacci, whose campaign spokeswoman Brittany Martinez called Gibbons' complaint "a predictably sad and desperate end to his campaign." Renacci also scored the endorsements of Sen. Rob Portman and the Ohio Republican Party.
Gibbons helped raise funds for Trump's 2016 Republican presidential run as Trump carried Ohio handily. As the election nears, he’s making campaign stops with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
Melissa Ackison, Dan Kiley and Don Eckhart are also running for the Republican nomination.
The winner of Tuesday's five-way primary will oppose second-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.
