Lt. Gov. Jones Seeks Millions From Opponent Jackson in Defamation Suit

A company owned by Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is suing his rival in the Republican gubernatorial primary runoff election—but voters will render their own verdict this Tuesday.

Last week, Jones Petroleum Co. sued healthcare CEO and gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson for $100 million in damages, claiming one of his campaign ads hurt the company’s reputation by wrongly tying it to gambling, corruption, and bribery.

In a complaint filed last week in Fulton County Superior Court, Jones’ company stated that it faces harm as long as the ad-related material remains accessible to the public. It further claims its franchise agreements are at risk if others think Jones Petroleum is engaged in illegal or unethical behavior.

At issue is a pro-Jackson campaign ad from March 17 titled “BurtJonesforGA fixed the game, bet big on corruption, and hit the jackpot.” The ad and a related website, the lawsuit alleges, used the Jones Petroleum branding and tied it to “a criminal scheme involving gambling,” Atlanta’s 11 Alive reported.

Jones’ company is the main shareholder of another company known as Convenience Stores Inc., which is permitted to run “coin-operated amusement machines” throughout the state, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The lawsuit alleges that Jackson’s ad and corresponding website falsely depict the company as running an illegal casino.

When asked for comment, Kayla Lott, a spokesperson for Jones, told the Daily Signal, “Is anyone surprised a guy that pretends to be endorsed by President Trump and Gov. Kemp would have a bad relationship with the truth?”

President Donald Trump endorsed Jones for Georgia governor last August. However, both Republican candidates are fighting to win the MAGA base.

The two men have a legal history.

In early March, Jackson, a billionaire, sued Jones and his campaign for defamation. Jackson claimed the lieutenant governor wrongly smeared him by suggesting he became wealthy by aiding Planned Parenthood’s recruiting efforts and “helping doctors perform transgender surgeries on minors,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Voters will decide which candidate they prefer on June 16, the date of the primary runoff. The winner will face-off against Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democrat candidate, in the Nov. 3 general election.

The Jackson campaign did not return the Daily Signal’s request for comment in time for publication.