The campaign of Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, has initiated legal action against Alabama Values PAC, accusing the organization of distributing false and defamatory statements about Simpson’s legislative record as scrutiny surrounding the shadowy political group continues to intensify.
In a cease and desist letter sent Monday by Opelika attorney Algert S. Agricola Jr., Simpson’s campaign alleged that Alabama Values PAC knowingly misrepresented Simpson’s votes in the Alabama House of Representatives through campaign mailers sent to voters in House District 96.
The PAC allegedly accused Simpson of supporting “free college for illegals,” “legalizing bribes for elected officials,” “early parole for violent felons” and “higher taxes on firearms.”
“None of these accusations is correct,” the letter states, describing Simpson as “a proven conservative member of the Alabama House of Representatives whose legislative votes reflect his conservative values.”
Simpson’s attorneys demanded that Alabama Values PAC “immediately cease and desist” from making what the campaign describes as intentionally false statements. The letter further warned that continuing to distribute statements allegedly known to be false could expose the organization to claims of “actual malice,” a significant legal threshold in defamation cases involving public officials.
The campaign also demanded that the PAC publicly retract the statements and notify households that received the mailers. In addition, the letter included a formal spoliation notice ordering Alabama Values PAC to preserve all documents and communications related to Simpson and his reelection campaign.
The legal threat marks the latest escalation in what has become one of the most aggressive and opaque outside influence campaigns of Alabama’s 2026 Republican primary season.
APR previously reported that Alabama Values PAC launched a coordinated campaign of attack mailers, websites and text messages targeting Republican incumbents including Simpson, Sen. Greg Albritton, Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, Rep. Phillip Pettus and Rep. Andrew Jones. Nearly all of the lawmakers targeted by the PAC had supported legislation that would have allowed Alabama voters to decide the issue of gaming expansion.
Questions surrounding the PAC intensified after APR revealed that official campaign finance filings identified Wisconsin political operative Thomas Datwyler as both chairperson and treasurer of Alabama Values PAC, even as former Alabama Sen. Dell Hill later publicly claimed responsibility for launching the organization.
APR also previously reported that the PAC’s funding sources had not yet been publicly disclosed under Alabama campaign finance reporting timelines, leaving unanswered questions about who is financing the coordinated attacks and what broader political interests may be involved.
Simpson publicly addressed the controversy Monday on social media.
“Writing a known false statement is called libel defamation under Alabama law,” Simpson wrote. “Dear Alabama Values PAC you better lawyer up because I am.”
The dispute further intensifies growing tensions within Alabama Republican politics, where battles over gaming legislation, political influence, and outside money have increasingly divided lawmakers and political factions ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
