Mont. couple who lost custody of trans child sends cease and desist to lieutenant governor

HELENA, Mont. (TND) — Krista and Todd Kolstad, who told The National Desk (TND) they lost custody of their child over a desire to change genders, sent a cease and desist letter to a Montana state leader this week for allegedly making defamatory statements.

The letter, acquired by TND, is directed at Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras and is part of an ongoing lawsuit between the Kolstads and Montana Child Protective Services related to custody of their child. Lt. Gov. Juras, the letter says, is responsible for defaming the Kolstads in previous court hearings on the matter.

The state executive must stop defaming the family, apologize for slandering them and preserve all written communications relating to the family, the letter demands.

You have said that CPS’s seizure of the Kolstads’ daughter was lawful and have repeatedly accused the Kolstads of lying about their daughter’s seizure,” the letter reads. “You have it exactly backwards — it is your statements about the Kolstads that are unfounded, malicious and slanderous under Montana law.”

“You and Governor Gianforte could have stopped this injustice, but instead you allowed CPS to trample on the Kolstad’s civil rights and illegally remove their daughter to Canada,” it continues.

Gov. Greg Gianforte told TND in January state officials acted within their legal limitations by removing the child.

“Our administration will continue to advance policies that strengthen our families and protect Montana kids, like what we have done to promote adoption and to ban permanent, invasive, life-altering medical procedures on children, like puberty blockers, hormonal treatments, and sex-reassignment surgeries," he said.

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