华裔议员董晗鹏向Global News（《环球新闻》）发出起诉书

2023年4月21日2023年4月21日 seagod 0 Comments

点此按钮收听本文语音

今天，Polley Faith LLP代表国会议员董晗鹏向Global News、Corus Entertainment Inc.、Sam Cooper、Sonia Verma 等发出起诉书，要求 1500 万加元的诽谤赔偿。被告在2023年2⽉和2023年3⽉发表了针对董先⽣的恶意、虚假和诽谤性文章和报道，破坏了他来之不易的声誉和事业，并使他和他的家⼈⾯临仇恨⾔论和威胁。

被告所报道的对董先⽣的严重指控包括试图颠覆加拿⼤的民主进程、充当外国特⼯和叛徒等，因此被告有责任在发布前彻底审查匿名消息来源的真实性。他们还有责任报道与其线报提供指控不⼀致之处或存疑之处。

— 广告 —

— 大洋海产加拿大的急冻海鲜先锋 —

被告在诸多方⾯并未能履⾏这些义务（详见起诉书）。至关重要的是，被告没有查询2021年2⽉谈话的文字记录或录音，他们声称董先生在谈话中呼吁继续监禁Michael Kovrig和Michael Spavor。被告也没有报道关键的背景信息，包括：

董先⽣在遵守严格的选举财务法规的前提下，艰难赢得了2019年自由党提名；
作为竞选的惯常做法，董先生的竞选团队为住在他选区的⽼年人提供交通服务，以便让他们投票；
作为民选官员的惯常做法，董先生在⼯作中偶尔会与外交官交谈，包括以加中立法协会联合主席的身份；
据《环球邮报》报道，总理办公室在董先生2021年2⽉与中国驻多伦多总领事的谈话记录中没有发现“需采取行动的证据”；
高级政府官员在证词中明确反驳并澄清了中国干涉指控的关键问题。

与被告的指控相反，董先⽣抓住每次与中国外交官交谈的机会，多次主张释放 Michael Kovrig与Michael Spavor。

在发出书面撤销要求后，董先生对被告提起了这⼀诉讼，以恢复他的名誉和职业生涯，并保护他⾃⼰和他的家⼈免受进⼀步伤害。

图源：董晗鹏提供

— 广告 —

— 冰酒之王，柳泉酒庄 —

（以英⽂文版为准，中译版仅供参考）

TORONTO — On behalf of Member of Parliament Han Dong, Polley Faith LLP served Global News, Corus Entertainment Inc., Sam Cooper, Sonia Verma, and others with a statement of claim today seeking $15 million in damages for libel. The defendants published malicious, false, and defamatory articles and broadcasts about Mr. Dong in February and March 2023, which have destroyed his hard-earned reputation and career and exposed him and his family to a campaign of hateful messages and threats.

Because of the serious allegations against Mr. Dong reported by the defendants—which include claims that he attempted to subvert Canada’s democratic processes, acted as a foreign agent, and is a traitor—the defendants had a duty to thoroughly scrutinize the veracity of their anonymous sources’ allegations before publication. They also had a duty to report information that was inconsistent with or raised questions about their sources’ allegations.

The defendants failed to meet these duties in a number of ways, as detailed in the statement of claim. Crucially, they did not review a transcript or recording of the February 2021 conversation in which they allege Mr. Dong called for the continued imprisonment of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. They also failed to report key contextual information, including that:

Mr. Dong won his 2019 Liberal Party nomination in a hard-fought contest, complying with strict election finance laws;
As is common practice amongst politicians running for office, Mr. Dong’s campaign provided transportation to seniors living within his riding to allow them to vote;
As is common practice for elected officials, Mr. Dong occasionally spoke with diplomats as part of his work, including in his capacity as co-chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association;
As reported by the Globe and Mail, the Prime Minister’s Office found no “actionable evidence” in the transcript of Mr. Dong’s February 2021 conversation with the Chinese Consul General in Toronto; and
Senior government officials have explicitly contradicted and clarified key aspects of the Chinese interference allegations in testimony.

Contrary to the defendants’ allegations, Mr. Dong repeatedly advocated for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor when he had the opportunity to speak with Chinese diplomats.

Following a written demand for retraction, Mr. Dong has brought this action against the defendants to restore his reputation and career, and to protect himself and his family from further harm.

For further information, please contact Mark Polley at mpolley@polleyfaith.com.

来源：Mark Polley