Rep. Chu to sue GOP assemblyman for implying endorsement

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) is expected to begin legal proceedings against a Republican candidate for the California Assembly who has said Chu has endorsed him.

According to the Rafu Shimpo, an English-Japanese newspaper in Los Angeles, Chu has asked Republican Matthew Lin to stop implying that she has endorsed him for the Assembly. But Lin rejected that request.

"It's unfortunate that Republican Matthew Lin continues to try to deceive voters in a desperate attempt to appear to be bipartisan despite his right-wing agenda," Chu said, according to the paper. "Lin is a partisan Republican, which he is clearly trying to hide with this illegal use of the names and photos of Democratic officials in his materials."

Lin has a mailer that includes some complimentary remarks that Chu made about him, although it also says in the fine print that no endorsement was made. The story quotes Lin's campaign manager as saying the suit is "meritless."

Chu has said she supports Democrat Ed Chau, who like Chu is a Chinese-American. Lin was born in Taiwan.

Chu is close to the assembly race because the seat that Lin and Chau are fighting for is now held by her husband, Democrat Mike Eng.

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