BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Buckingham Township Supervisor Jon Forest has issued a public apology to Froehlich's Farm for a political flyer he sent out during his campaign for supervisor in 2023.
In his apology, posted to his 2023 campaign Facebook page, Forest said he made several claims about Froehlich's Farm, and by extension, Chip Froehlich and Brian Stover, that were "factually untrue. I erroneously accused Froehlich’s Farm of engaging in corruption and quid pro quo behavior. This accusation was based on conversations that never happened."
The letter of apology is part of a settlement agreement reached between Forest and the farm over a defamation lawsuit filed by the farm over the flyer. In its suit, the farm alleged claims for "defamation, commercial disparagement, and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage."
In addition to the apology, Forest agreed to a settlement payment to the farm of $65,000, according to the public settlement agreement.
In his apology letter, Forest also said he "falsely stated that Mr. (Mike) Bateman attended the August 31, 2023 hearing to support Froehlich’s Farm and offered to defend them in exchange for their electoral support. Neither Mr. Bateman nor anyone from Froehlich’s Farm ever made statements to that effect," he writes.
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