Keith Gross’ Defamation Lawsuit Faces Dismissal
Keith Gross’ defamation lawsuit against a former Communications Director in a past failed election bid could be dismissed on a legal technicality. The Florida Congressional candidate is represented by Robert Vinson, an attorney at his own firm, Gross Law Group by day, a stand-up comedian by night. by Sean Kelly, founder, Truth for Veterans, Truth for All.
Robert Vinson proudly proclaims that he’s an “Attorney by Day,” and “Stand-Up Comedian by Night,” but U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank isn’t laughing.
Vinson is representing his boss, Keith Gross, a Congressional candidate and head of Gross Law Firm, in a defamation suit against former NRSC Deputy Communications Director Philip Letsou.
(Last May, we received a Cease & Desist letter from Gross Law Group attorney Rob Vinson threatening to sue us for defaming Keith Gross.)
The defamation lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, alleges that Letsou made and published false, malicious statements—including claims that Gross engaged in “illegal activity,” had a “record of fraud,” and was a “scam artist”—which severely damaged his personal, political, and professional reputation.
Read:
Keith Gross v Letsou Complaint for Defamation
Judge Michael J. Frank ordered plaintiff Keith Gross to file an amended complaint by July 30, 2026, to properly establish subject-matter jurisdiction, noting that Gross’ complaint merely alleged residency rather than citizenship for the parties.
He also pointed out that Gross attorney Robert Vinson cited an incorrect jurisdictional statute.
Read:
Judge Frank’s Order to File an Amended Complaint
The July 30 deadline came and went with no Amended Complaint filed.
Today, Judge Michael J. Frank has ruled that Congressional candidate Keith Gross has until the end of the week (August 7, 2026) to “show cause why” his defamation lawsuit against former NRSC Deputy Communications Director Philip Letsou should not be dismissed for “lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.”
Philip Letsou: “Keith Gross has a long record of failure and fraud….” and “has failed at everything else he’s tried in life.”
It’s not clear whether the missed deadline was an accident or whether Keith Gross had decided to stop pursuing the lawsuit.
Having recently posted a Candidate Financial Statement indicating a net worth in the hundreds of millions, and having self-funded his current campaign with $10M of his own funds, Gross likely wouldn’t have trouble disproving Letsou’s statements regarding his business failures.
Keith Gross: 2026 Congressional Candidate Financial Disclosure Report
Keith Gross’ Complaint for Defamation, submitted by Gross Law Group attorney Robert Vinson, states:
On or about January 22, 2024, the NRSC published an official Press Release on its website titled “NRSC Complaint Exposes More Illegal Activity from Florida Scam Artist,” referring to Mr. Gross. The Press Release is included hereto as “Exhibit A.”
6. The Press Release included the following quote from Defendant Letsou: “Keith Gross’s latest scam is lying to Floridians by pretending he isn’t an out-of-state Democrat who has failed at everything else he’s tried in life.”
7. The Press Release further accused Mr. Gross of a “long history of failure and lawbreaking,” and stated that he was “illegally coordinating with an outside group,” had been “kicked off the ballot in Georgia,” and had “run a small business into the ground.”
8. On September 18, 2023, The Hill published an article quoting Letsou stating:
“Whether he’s running as a Democrat in Georgia or running businesses into the ground in Maryland, Keith Gross has a long record of failure and fraud. Rick Scott is going to crush him.” The Hill article is attached hereto as “Exhibit B.”
9. The same quote was republished by the Daily Caller on the same day, further amplifying the defamatory content. The Daily Caller is attached hereto as “Exhibit C.”
10. Each of these statements is categorically false. Mr. Gross has never been convicted of or implicated in any fraudulent or illegal conduct. He has operated lawful businesses and any business setbacks have occurred in the normal course of entrepreneurship without fraud, misrepresentation, or unethical conduct.
Following Keith Gross’s failure to file an amended complaint by the deadline, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank ordered Gross to show cause by August 7, 2026, why the case should not be dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
Read:
Judge Frank’s Order To Show Cause
About Philip Letsou:
According to his LinkedIn profile, Letsou was Deputy Communications Director National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) from Jan 2023 – Dec 2024.
He has been Chief of Staff for US Senator Bernie Moreno since December, 2024.
Philip Letsou is represented by JOHN STUART EHRETT (Lead Attorney), RYAN GRANT DOLLAR, and ERIN MORROW HAWLEY,
of law firm LEX POLITICA PLLC – WASHINGTON DC
About Keith Gross:
Keith Gross is a franchise attorney, founder of Gross Law Group, and a U.S. Senate candidate campaigning in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. If successful, he will have been the first openly gay candidate elected in a Florida Congressional race.
Keith Gross is represented by ROBERT ALEXANDER VINSON, GROSS LAW GROUP – PENSACOLA FL, Panama City, FL.
Robert Vinson is also a stand-up comedian and Executive Director of Decrim Nature FL, a group advocating for the legalization of entheogenic plants and fungi and the “natural” hallucinogens they produce (including peyote, mescaline, magic mushrooms).
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Tags: Keith Gross, Keithly Gross, Keith Gross for Congress, Keith Gross Financial Disclosure, Gross Law Group, Defamation, Rob Vinson, Rob Vinson comedy, Philip Letsou, Keith Gross v Philip Letsou, Congressional District FL-02, Alex Gingold, Amanda Gingold, DonutNV franchise
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