Politics
Norton Files $2.6M Defamation Suit Against Yee Over Alleged Whisper Campaign
Arizona Republican Elijah Norton sued state Treasurer Kimberly Yee for defamation, alleging she spread false rumors about his sexuality after he refused to donate to a political group she chaired. Norton seeks $2.6 million in damages in the Maricopa County Superior Court filing.
PHOENIX â Arizona Republican Elijah Norton has filed a defamation lawsuit against state Treasurer Kimberly Yee, accusing his fellow GOP politician of orchestrating a whisper campaign about his personal life and sexuality in an attempt to derail his candidacy.
The complaint, filed Nov. 10 in Maricopa County Superior Court, seeks $2.6 million in damages. Norton alleges that Yee spread false rumors about his sexuality after he declined to donate to a political group she chaired, according to the filing.
Norton, who had publicly signaled his intention to sue, claims Yee's actions were designed to "sabotage" his political ambitions. The lawsuit contends that the rumors were circulated within Republican political circles and damaged his reputation and standing among voters.
The dispute marks an escalation of tensions within Arizona's Republican Party, where intraparty rivalries have grown increasingly bitter. Yee, a statewide officeholder, chaired a political group that Norton says he declined to fund â a decision the lawsuit alleges triggered the retaliatory rumors.
Details of the alleged rumors and the specific communications at issue were not immediately available from the court filing. A representative for Yee did not respond to a request for comment.
The lawsuit adds to a broader pattern of contentious GOP primary battles in Arizona, where candidates have frequently clashed over ideology, fundraising and personal attacks. Norton's decision to pursue legal action rather than respond politically underscores the seriousness with which he views the allegations.
The case is pending in Maricopa County Superior Court. Norton is seeking compensatory damages totaling $2.6 million, though the complaint may also seek other relief.