Congressmember Jim Costa is telling his election rival to take down a video ad, claiming it is filled with lies.

The ad from Kingsburg businessman and Republican Michael Maher posted on YouTube on Oct. 1, and has also aired on Fresno-area TV stations. Entitled “Costa’s 50 Years in Washington: Time for Real Change in the Valley,” Maher said Costa has done nothing in his term in Washington.

“Ten presidents have come and gone since Jim Costa first went to Washington 50 years ago. After decades in Congress, all Costa has to show for it is two bills signed into law one to rename a post office, the other about a stamp. Jim Costa’s time has come and gone,” a narrator in the ad said.

The visual shows Costa, D-Fresno, posing with presidents — ranging from Nixon to Biden — in front of the Capitol.

Costa’s attorneys sent the Maher campaign a letter on Oct. 11.

“We demand that you immediately cease and desist from further circulating the video and making the knowingly false and misleading statements contained therein,” the letter from George Yin of the Kaufman Legal Group said.

Related Story: GOP Candidate Michael Maher Issues Debate Challenge to Rep. Jim Costa

Are Ad’s Claims True?

Voters first elected Costa to congress in 2004, making it 20 years and four presidents — George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. He previously served from 1978 to 2004 in the California state legislature. That would be an additional 26 years and five governors.

The Costa letter states that if he served under 10 presidents, that would date back to Lyndon Johnson, who left office in 1969. Actually, 10 presidents back would be Nixon. The letter also states that Costa has sponsored 11 bills signed into law since 2005.

That claim depends on how the campaigns define sponsored bills signed into law.

Congress.gov, the government-run website, backs up Maher’s claim of sponsored legislation signed into law: a 2012 bill to rename a Fowler post office and a 2021 bill for a stamp.

Costa countered that 11 bills he sponsored became law.

“While some of the bills Congressman Costa introduced were merged into other enacted bills, you are no doubt aware that this is how Congress works. In making these false statements, you are either cynically ignoring this fact or not sufficiently aware of how Congress functions,” the Costa letter said.

One example is the 2022 Respect for Child Survivors Act — which legislates how the FBI investigates child abuse cases. The bill originated in the Senate.

Others are bills passed and signed through another piece of legislation. For example, Costa sponsored HR 3022 to modify flood control on Central Valley waterways. It was eventually passed through HR 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act.

“Your gross mischaracterization of Congressman Costa’s legislative record is ill-informed, misleading, defamatory, and must cease,” the letter said.”

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Costa Reacts, Maher Explains

GV Wire caught up with both Costa and Maher on Monday.

Maher said the 50 years is calcuated from when Costa worked on Capitol Hill as in intern in 1973.

“It just tells the facts and the truth,” Maher said at a news conference held in downtown Fresno. “They try to intimidate. They try to bully. I’ve stood up to bullies.”

Costa, at another news conference to highlight progress at the Fresno Yosemite airport, said his campaign sent the letter because he was tired of others lying about his record.

He was adamant he has not spent 50 years in Washington. Costa highlighted the work he has done, like bringing $27 million in federal funds to help with the airport project.

Maher Ads on TV

Maher has bought time on several Fresno TV stations airing the “10 Presidents” ad and others.

On KSEE-24, the NBC affiliate, he has spent $6,000 from Sept. 30 through Oct. 13 — including $1,250 on the Sunday Night Football pre-game show on Oct. 7.

Maher spent another $8,715 in the same time period on KGPE-47, the CBS affiliate. And, he spent $11,950 on KFSN-30 the ABC owned and operated station.

“While the First Amendment affords protection for political speech, it does not protect defamatory speech,” the letter said.

If Maher does not remove the ad — it remained online as of Monday morning — Costa threatened to “explore every legal remedy available against you, the Committee, and its principals, including pursuing legal action seeking monetary damages as well as attorney’s fees.”