Back in May 2019, former U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA10), who used to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates, went on Trumpster Radio (“The John Fredericks Show”) and ripped into State Sen. (formerly Del.) Joe Morrissey (D-Petersburg), saying Morrissey was “a predator when he was in the House of Delegates; we had to warn the girls to stay away from him…he is not somebody who should be serving in office at all...we had to warn the interns to stay away from him…preying upon your staff or young interns is not something that should go on in the Virginia General Assembly…a disbarred attorney with a lot of sordid record behind him…the violence incidents, you know the long story.”
Well, clearly, Morrissey didn’t take kindly to that. In response, he’s now suing Comstock for defamation, as he explains in the following audio, posted this morning by The John Fredericks Show. I’ve provided the YouTube transcription, with bolding for emphasis, including where Morrissey exclaims: “don’t make up some slanderous defamatory remark out of whole cloth. That’s called defamation, and unlike a lot of people I won’t turn the other cheek. I’m like the Jews – you hit them with a stick they retaliate with a 2×4. That’s what I’m like.” TFirst of all, where did Morrissey get the idea that that’s how all Jews are? Second, this court case should be, uh…interesting? Stay tuned.
Morrissey: “Several months ago…a few weeks before the June primary in 2019,
when I was running against [Sen. Rosalyn Dance], you had your friend Congresswoman [Barbara] Comstock [R-VA10] on the radio, and with just south of 4 minutes to go she gratuitously volunteered the following: ‘oh and by the way, that Joe Morrissey, he was a predator when he was in the House of Delegates, we had to warn our interns to stay away from him’…
Barbara Comstock made that up out of whole cloth. Over the last year, we’ve collected statements from over 30 or 40 people that were in the House of Delegates – interns, Republican staffers – never, ever did that occur; she made it up. And then she had an opportunity to walk it back…and she doubled down…Really Barbara? Well guess what? You’d better be right, because that’s called defamation per se, and I sued you and we’re going to be in a Richmond jury soon and I’m going to clean your clock. You lied, Barbara, you made it up, it was indefensible, it was inexplicable. I have a family and let me tell you something Barbara, you come after me, you come after my family, you come after my wife or my child, I am going to I am going to respond with full force. Barbara, I filed a suit against you, I’m looking forward to your response, I’ll see you in a courthouse.
Now John, let me tell you why I did that – because bad things happen when good people do nothing. If you don’t stop people from saying horribly… you could say something mean about me, fine…say something that’s nasty, mean-spirited, churlish, rude, crude that’s fine. I’m a big boy, I’m a politician. But don’t make up some slanderous defamatory remark out of whole cloth. That’s called defamation, and unlike a lot of people I won’t turn the other cheek. I’m like the Jews – you hit them with a stick they retaliate with a 2×4. That’s what I’m like. You said something that was mean, caustic, false, defamatory, malicious and I’m fighting back. And I’m coming after your money Barbara. And then when I get your money I’m gonna give it all away. I’m Joe Morrissey and I’m suing Barbara Comstock...She was arrogant, she was haughty and now she’s going to be a defendant in a in a defamation lawsuit and she’s gonna sit in a Richmond courthouse…Barbara, get ready…I don’t quit Barbara…I won a state wrestling champion state wrestling championship at 105 pounds on a torn ACL. Do you think I quit Barbara? Do you think I back off? Not gonna happen Barbara. See you in court soon.”
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
