Attorneys representing Sen. Roger Marshall on Monday accused Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton of producing a "defamatory" ad centered on a former patient who was arrested for missing court dates related to unpaid medical debt owed to the Kansas Republican.

In a letter sent to Hamilton, Marshall's attorneys claimed that the ad released last week by the Kansas Democrat's campaign contained "false" information and must be taken down.

"We demand that you immediately cease and desist from any further publication, broadcast, distribution, or promotion of the advertisement," the letter said.

The ad in question features Meischa Zimmerman—a one-time patient of Marshall, a former obstetrician-gynecologist—who was arrested in 2011 after missing a $50 payment.

Meischa was Roger Marshall's patient. This is her story. pic.twitter.com/M6bmqK92gm
— Team Hamilton (@TeamHamiltonHQ) September 25, 2026

As The New York Times reported earlier this month, Zimmerman, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her arrest, owed Marshall nearly $3,600 for a C-section he performed while delivering one of her children. She had previously agreed to a $50 monthly repayment plan for the procedure after being sued by Marshall's office for unpaid medical debts.

Marshall's attorneys objected to the ad's portrayal of events, arguing that Zimmerman's $50 missed payment was only a fraction of the total that she owed to the future senator.

"Falsely accusing a physician of having a pregnant patient arrested over a $50 bill strikes directly at Senator Marshall’s professional integrity as a physician and his fitness for public office," they wrote, "and it has been broadcast to thousands of Kansas voters in the final weeks of an election."

The attorneys' letter does not appear to have deterred Hamilton, who continued to promote the ad featuring Zimmerman in a Monday social media post.

"Roger Marshall REALLY doesn't want you to see this ad," Hamilton wrote. "Meischa's story is true. Roger Marshall and his lawyers can’t hide the truth about his record from Kansas voters."

Tyson Brody, spokesperson for Hamilton's campaign, defended the ad in an interview with the Kansas Reflector.

“The lies in his letter are blatant and reek of desperation,” Brody said. “The truth is what Roger Marshall did is extreme and hurt Kansans. Voters should know the truth about who their senator is and what he’s done."

According to the Times' reporting, at least 81 one-time Marshall patients have been arrested for missing court dates stemming from their unpaid medical bills, with one patient taken into custody owing just $114.

The Times investigation also found that Marshall or his office sued more than 700 patients for unpaid bills throughout his two-decade career.

Kellie Clutts, another former patient of Marshall, told the Times she was sued by the Kansas Republican in 2015 over a $129 bill, which eventually resulted in her bank account being garnished.

"I was recently divorced, trying to do everything on my own," Clutts told the Times. "I told them I could make partial payments, but it seemed like no matter what I said, they wanted the full amount at once."


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[–] 11 points 1 month ago

Defamation: Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.

Slander: A false and malicious statement or report about someone

Defamation does not apply in this case, as the temporary Senator has no good reputation to be harmed. Furthermore the statements are not false, therefore there is no slander.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago

    Defamation: Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.

    Defamation does not apply in this case, as the temporary Senator has no good reputation to be harmed.

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  • 15 comments in c/politics@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 59 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

    According to the Times’ reporting, at least 81 one-time Marshall patients have been arrested for missing court dates stemming from their unpaid medical bills, with one patient taken into custody owing just $114.

    The Times investigation also found that Marshall or his office sued more than 700 patients for unpaid bills throughout his two-decade career.

    Oh well, I guess they'll have to make an advert about one of the other hundreds of people he did this to then. Not that it will sway Republican voters, for whom callousness is a feature.

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  • [–] 43 points 1 month ago

    Time for someone to learn about the Streisand effect....

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  • [–] 35 points 1 month ago (5 children)

    Is it defamation if it's true?

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  • [–] 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

    The truth is a 100% defense. It’s only defamation if you KNOWINGLY speak a false statement that is harmful to the reputation. Add to it that public figures have a higher threshold than members of the public to prove defamation.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    Literally it's not, but practically it sometimes is, if you don't have the money for representation or time to take off work to fight it. This guy is obviously used to using his money to bully people. I'm assuming it's not going to work in his favor this time.

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  • [–] 29 points 1 month ago

    Let it go trail and we get discovery they will drop the lawsuit. He is scum and should be buried under a prison.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago

    I didn't know Kansas was doing the end run around debtor's prisons as well. Utah has been doing this shit for a decade or more.

    Big city firms buy distressed debt, sue in the big city where they have friendly and I presume paid off judges, and when defendants don't show up, they get contempt charges on them. If they pay they get out of jail. If not, after 30 or 60 days they get out, only for it to happen again.

    Usury. A rejection of Christianity, of Christ, and a stain on your ShitHoly States! Fuck you.

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  • [+] -6 points 1 month ago (4 children)

    Fuck this guy, but I’m down to get rid of official attack ads in general.

    Of course I despise advertisements of all varieties, but political attack ads are a special type of unwelcome assault on our collective mental health.

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  • [–] 31 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    this isn't the usual 'attack' ad though.. which is why the magat is so riled-up. it's based on facts, including verifiable and indisputable public records kinds of facts, that he can't make up some bullshit to counter.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago

    I also hate attack ads, but probably mostly because they are all sensationalized and half truths. If someone brings receipts, I don't care as much, but I absolutely hate all political ads, positive or negative. I can't wait until after the midterms are done.

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  • 2 comments in c/politics@lemmy.dbzer0.com view that post
    [–] 9 points 1 month ago

    “I mean, sure, the court documents back that ad up, but we still think it’s defamation!”

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  • [–] 5 points 1 month ago

    Why don’t you sue her again then, pussy. What a lil bitch.

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