Bob Harvie Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Political Action Committee

Democratic congressional candidate Bob Harvie filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against an out-of-state political action committee (PAC) and its president.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Harvie and his campaign committee and names Defending America PAC Inc. and political consultant Chris Pack as defendants.

The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, seeks compensatory and punitive damages exceeding $150,000, alleging defamation and false light invasion of privacy.

Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner running as a Democrat for the First Congressional District seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, claims the defendants repeatedly published false assertions across a website, social media accounts, video posts, and emails to voters.

Defending America PAC, which was created to defend Fitzpatrick from challengers, and Pack routinely labeled Harvie an “FBI corruption subject” and claimed he was “under FBI investigation,” according to the complaint.

The court filing states that Harvie testified before a federal grand jury as a witness in 2021 regarding a probe involving Falls Township, the Pennsbury School District, and a local union, as LevittownNow.com has exclusively reported.

The Democrat said he was never a target or subject of any criminal investigation and has never been charged with a crime.

“Harvie understood that he provided testimony in grand jury proceedings in the capacity of a witness,” the lawsuit states.

Harvie’s attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter in early July over the political group’s messaging.

Instead of complying, the lawsuit alleges the defendants escalated their campaign by mocking the demand online and publishing accusations claiming Harvie engaged in an improper relationship with a Bucks County government employee, which Harvie denies.

“The Facebook Publication directly accuses Harvie of engaging in an extramarital relationship with a Bucks County employee while serving as a Bucks County Commissioner and misusing his public office, in order to destroy his reputation,” the lawsuit said.

“Defendants’ conduct is not politics as usual,” attorneys Timothy J. Ford and Marion Barker Taylor wrote in the complaint. They added that the actions were carried out with actual malice and reckless disregard for the truth.

Defending America PAC is registered in Georgia and incorporated in New York, and Pack is based in New York.

“Rather than release the complete, unredacted record related to his corruption investigation, which voters deserve to see, FBI Corruption Subject Bob Harvie has predictably chosen to engage in lawfare by filing a meritless lawsuit in an attempt to stifle our political speech,” said Defending America PAC President Chris Pack. “Rest assured we will vigorously defend ourselves and seek every remedy available under Pennsylvania law, including Pennsylvania’s anti-SLAPP protections signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro.”