Former MP Han Dong settles defamation lawsuit with Global News

Former MP Han Dong has settled his defamation suit against Global News, according to a connection posted to the quality organization's website, closing a two-year legal conflict that came aft the outlet published an article alleging helium advised a Chinese diplomat to clasp disconnected connected freeing 2 Canadians who were detained successful China astatine the time.

On Sunday morning, Global published a connection connected its website that said it and "former MP Han Dong person settled Mr. Dong's suit concerning Global News stories that reported connected allegations astir Mr. Dong."

In March 2023, Global published a communicative alleging Dong advised a elder Chinese diplomat successful February 2021 that Beijing should clasp disconnected connected freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, 2 Canadians who were being held by China astatine the time.

Dong denied the allegations and filed a suit against Global, its genitor institution Corus and respective journalists conscionable weeks aft the communicative ran.

In the final study of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue wrote that classified quality "corroborates Mr. Dong's denial of the allegation that helium suggested the [People's Republic of China] should clasp disconnected releasing Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor. He did not suggest that the PRC widen their detention."

In its statement, Global said it "recognizes the findings" of the inquiry's report, including the classified accusation reviewed by Hogue.

The quality enactment added "the stories published by Global were based connected accusation provided by confidential quality sources."

"Mr. Dong has ever denied the accuracy of this intelligence. In reporting connected the sources' allegations concerning Mr. Dong, Global News's intent was to study connected matters of important nationalist involvement and to suffice that the allegations were unproven and taxable to antithetic interpretations," it said.

In a connection to CBC News, Dong confirmed the colony and said "after 2 agelong years, yet my household and I tin determination on."

"I person had a profound appreciation of the privilege of holding a nationalist bureau and being a subordinate of the Liberal caucus," helium said.

Dong near the Liberal caucus successful March 2023 to beryllium arsenic an Independent MP. He did not seek re-election in the 2025 national predetermination successful his suburban Toronto riding of Don Valley North after the Liberal Party told him they were going to tally a caller candidate, Maggie Chi — who aboriginal won the riding.

WATCH | Dong quits Liberal caucus amid predetermination interference allegations:

In June 2024, an Ontario Superior Court justice recovered nary documented grounds to enactment allegations made against Dong successful the Global News articles.

The judge's comments came arsenic helium rejected an exertion from Corus Entertainment to propulsion retired Dong's suit against the quality service, saying it was successful the nationalist involvement to perceive the case.

"The substance of Mr. Dong's communications with the Chinese are worthy of the state of look of an unfastened tribunal system," Justice Paul Perell said successful his judgment.

Perell recovered the newsman who wrote the communicative did not spot a transcript of the speech betwixt Dong and the diplomat, derived from the confidential sources, and did not support each of the notes utilized arsenic portion of the reporting process.

The ruling said the notes the newsman did keep, based connected conversations with sources, bash not incorporate immoderate notation to Dong advising a Chinese diplomat to "delay" oregon "hold off" connected releasing the 2 men.

Kovrig and Spavor returned to Canada successful September 2021, astir 3 years aft they were archetypal detained by China successful what was widely seen to beryllium a retaliatory enactment successful effect to Canada's apprehension of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on behalf of U.S. authorities.