The suit argued that during the broadcast Holmberg falsely stated that, “During the past couple of years, Richmond has made national news and international news as a cool place to live, to visit, to play and party. Now we’re making national news because of this fool?”

Hudson wrote that, “Morrissey characterizes this allegedly false statement as ‘the product of spite, ill-will, and an overt desire to discredit and destroy Joe’s reputation for being extremely intelligent.”

Hudson wrote that, “much of the commentary at issue is tame in light of the tenor of contemporary political debate. This is particularly true of such amorphous terms as ‘fool,’ ‘famously and stupidly’ ‘this clown, this nonstop, one ring circus, this liar.’ While such language may be insulting and derogatory, it does not have the requisite defamatory sting.”

“When public figures enter the political arena, they have voluntarily exposed themselves to increased risks from defamatory falsehood concerning them,” wrote Hudson.

Morrissey lost the race for mayor but has since been elected to the Virginia state Senate and took his oath of office Wednesday.