Highland Park activist sues pastor and mayoral candidate Solomon Kinloch for defamation - Detroit Metro Times

Local Pastor and Mayoral Candidate Embroiled in Defamation Lawsuit Over Allegations of Covert Operative for Rival Candidate

A high-stakes defamation lawsuit has been filed by Highland Park activist Robert Davis against megachurch pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr., a mayoral candidate in Detroit, over allegations that Kinloch maliciously lied about him during and after a recent debate.

According to the lawsuit, filed in Oakland County Circuit Court, Kinloch falsely claimed that Davis was a "covert operative" for Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, who is leading the mayoral race. The allegations come amid controversy surrounding Kinloch's church, Triumph Church, which has been accused of delinquent water bills and fraudulent property deals.

The lawsuit states that Kinloch made these false claims without presenting any evidence, and they were subsequently published in local media outlets. Davis is seeking at least $250,000 in damages, claiming he "has lost out on potential clients" as a result of Kinloch's "false and defamatory statements."

Kinloch's campaign has denied the allegations, with some sources suggesting that Kinloch fabricated the claims to resuscitate his struggling mayoral campaign. However, Davis asserts that the "false and defamatory statements" were made with actual malice.

This lawsuit marks the latest chapter in a series of controversies surrounding Kinloch's church and business dealings. Last month, Davis filed a separate lawsuit alleging that Kinloch violated state and federal laws after his church bought a property and then conveyed it to him for $1 through a private limited liability company controlled by Kinloch.

The case has sparked concerns about the influence of megachurches in local politics, particularly when it comes to their financial dealings and business practices. As the mayoral election heats up, these allegations are likely to have significant implications for both candidates.

can we just take a step back and look at this from a different angle? like, is it really that black & white? i mean, kinloch makes some claims about davis, but so does davis make some pretty serious accusations against kinloch's church... can't we all just try to figure out what's going on here? maybe there are some skeletons in both camps that aren't being talked about. and let's not forget, davis is seeking $250k in damages... isn't that a bit rich coming from someone who's suing over "covert operative" claims?

I mean, think about it... a defamation lawsuit can actually lead to some serious clarity! Like, if Davis's claims are proven false, maybe we should be looking into how they came to be in the first place? It's like, what's really going on here? Is there some kind of bigger issue that we're not seeing? And let's not forget, this is all playing out during a mayoral election... so it's like, who benefits from all this drama? As for Kinloch and his church, I guess you could say they're getting some extra attention. Maybe they'll use this to revamp their image or something? Who knows? Anyway, I'm keeping an eye on this one... it's gonna be interesting!

I'm totally not surprised that this is happening . I mean, come on, someone with a megachurch backing them is always gonna be in trouble when they start making wild accusations against others. It's like, you gotta wonder if Kinloch even knows the first thing about what he's talking about .

And can we talk about how shady it sounds that Davis was just doing his due diligence and then Kinloch had to go and make a bunch of unsubstantiated claims about him? That's not how politics works, folks . It's like someone's trying to smear their opponent without actually saying anything concrete or meaningful.

As for the whole thing with Triumph Church and its delinquent water bills... that's just wild . I mean, who gets into financial trouble over church business? It's not like it's exactly a secret how churches can get into trouble when they're making questionable investments .

Anyway, this lawsuit is definitely gonna be interesting to watch unfold. Fingers crossed for Robert Davis and the truth coming out!

I'm not surprised by this turn of events, honestly. It's like, you know how some people just can't help but try to bring others down? Solomon Kinloch Jr.'s reputation is already taking a hit from all these scandals, and now he's resorting to defamation lawsuits? That just smells like desperation to me.

And let's not forget about the elephant in the room - Triumph Church's questionable business practices. It's one thing to run for public office, but it's another thing entirely when you're accused of shady dealings and still manage to get elected. The fact that Kinloch is using his church as a front for personal gain just raises so many red flags.

For Robert Davis, I think he's got a solid case here. If Kinloch made these false claims with actual malice, then he should have to pay up. At the end of the day, it's not about the money; it's about accountability and setting an example for other politicians to follow.

omg u guys, i feel so bad 4 solomon kinloch jr he's been through so much already with his church & business dealings. i think robert davis might be overreacting tho maybe david should focus on his own campaign instead of attacking kinloch. kinloch has a right to defend himself, u know? and btw, the media outlets that published those defamatory statements didn't do their due diligence either let's not forget about accountability here