A former Republican candidate for a congressional seat in Maryland is suing conservative pundit Candace Owens for $20million, accusing her of defamation stemming from an Instagram video that purported to paint her as a cocaine-snorting, money-laundering strip club 'madame.'
The defamation lawsuit was filed on behalf of Kimberly Klacik in Baltimore County Circuit Court in late July.
According to the court documents, as a result of Owens' 44-minute tirade, Klacik lost a book deal and a contract with a 'nationally recognized vendor,' and had politicians cancel fundraising appearances with her.
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Kimberly Klacik (left), a rising star in the GOP, is suing right-wing pundit Candace Owens (right) for $20million in damages, claiming defamation
According to previous reporting, Owens and Klacik have been locked in a months-long feud and have been trading barbs on social media, with Owens slamming her rival as a 'fake' person.
The two hardline conservatives first clashed over a tweet from Owens, criticizing President Joe Biden for designating Juneteenth as a national holiday.
'Sometimes I wonder when (if ever) Black America will wake up to the psychological warfare and perpetual brainwash to believe everything is racist,' Owens tweeted.
Klacik replied; 'believe it or not, many in "Black America" are very aware the fight is about classism rather [than] racism. Unfortunately, the loudest mouths with the largest platforms represent the majority. This might come to a shock to you because of your lack of engagement with black people.'
Klacik received a full-throated endorsement from Donald Trump during her failed run for a congressional seat in Maryland last years. Pictured: Klacik with Trump and Rudy Giuliani
The war of words took a more serious turn on June 22, when Owens claimed in an Instagram video that Klacik's charitable organization, Potential Me, was illegitimate, and that she committed fraud by misusing campaign funds from her failed run for Congress last year, according to the complaint cited by The Baltimore Sun.
In her June 22 video, Owens alleged that Klacik was a 'madame' and was involved in campaign and tax fraud
Owens did not stop there, also alleging in the video, which has been viewed more than 1.6million
