U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has publicly ignored Elijah Manley, the young activist challenging her in next year’s primary — until now. On Wednesday, she responded to a monthslong series of political attacks from Manley, by filing a $1 million defamation lawsuit against him.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s move isn’t unique. Elected officials or candidates filing defamation cases against political opponents — seeking to have disputes heard in courts of law rather than the traditional court of public opinion — is happening more often, lawyers and political analysts agree.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s lawsuit said that Manley’s Instagram videos and published statements about her, including suggesting that the incumbent engaged in misconduct, amount to “a pattern of making false and defamatory state

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