In a gripping legal confrontation, a forensic computer scientist and election integrity advocate has taken a bold step by filing a lawsuit against a Republican State Committee Member for defamation. On April 1, 2025, Gregory Stenstrom filed this complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, accusing Valerie Biancaniello of making malicious and false public statements against him.
The case stems from an incident on April 1st, 2025, when Stenstrom released a bipartisan media statement addressing alleged candidate suppression and election misconduct in Pennsylvania. According to the complaint, this release was factual and constitutionally protected speech. However, Biancaniello allegedly retaliated by publishing defamatory statements on social media, accusing Stenstrom of dishonesty and deception. The complaint argues that these statements were not mere opinions but false assertions made with actual malice intended to harm Stenstrom's reputation.
Stenstrom claims that Biancaniello's actions amount to defamation per se, false light invasion of privacy, and tortious interference with his economic relations. He emphasizes that he is not a public figure under the New York Times Co. v. Sullivan standard but asserts that Biancaniello's conduct was malicious regardless of the standard applied. The complaint highlights that Biancaniello has engaged in similar attacks against political adversaries as part of a pattern designed to intimidate and suppress dissent.
The plaintiff seeks $100,000 in compensatory damages along with punitive damages aimed at deterring such misconduct in the future. Additionally, Stenstrom requests recovery of all costs and attorneys' fees incurred during the prosecution of this action under Pennsylvania law (42 Pa.C.S. § 2503). The lawsuit underscores the plaintiff's demand for justice through both financial compensation and accountability for the defendant's alleged bad faith conduct.
Representing himself pro se in this legal battle is Gregory Stenstrom. As no attorney names are provided for either party within the document, it remains unclear who will represent Valerie Biancaniello or if she will also proceed without counsel. The case is identified under Case No.CV2025003061, filed in Delaware County’s Court of Common Pleas on April 1st, 2025.