Rep. Devin Nunes, California Republican, filed Monday a $150 million defamation lawsuit against McClatchy newspapers, alleging that the media company engaged in a conspiracy to destroy his reputation and derail his committee’s Clinton and Russia investigation.
Mr. Nunes, the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, sued McClatchy over its coverage in the Fresno Bee, his hometown newspaper, as well as Republican communications strategist Liz Mair, head of Mair Strategies.
“This is a case about character assassination and a public company that weaponized its powerful pen and used it as a terrible sword,” said the lawsuit posted by Fox News.
Last month, Mr. Nunes filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against Twitter and a handful of users, including Ms. Mair. The complaint also accused the social-media giant of shadow-banning and censoring conservatives.
Defamation lawsuits, particularly those against public figures such as elected officials, are notoriously difficult to win, but Mr. Nunes indicated that this is only the beginning.
“This is part of the broader clean-up,” said Mr. Nunes told Fox host Sean Hannity.
The latest lawsuit alleges that in “article after article, McClatchy and its reporters exhibited an institutional hatred for Nunes, spite, ill-will and the intent to hurt Nunes and impugn his character.”
The “central purpose” was to “interfere with [his] investigation of corruption by the [Hillary] Clinton campaign and alleged ‘collusion’ between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election,” said the lawsuit.
“McClatchy is one of the biggest, the worst offenders of this, but we’re coming after the rest of them,” Mr. Nunes said on “Hannity.” “I think that people are just beginning to wake up now that I’m serious, I’m coming to clean up all the mess. So if you’re out there, and you lied and you defamed, we’re going to come after you.”
In a Tuesday statement, McClatchy defended its reporting. “With the limited opportunity we have had to review this claim, it is wholly without merit and we stand behind the strong reporting of The Fresno Bee,” said the chain.
McClatchy operates newspapers in 30 markets with a circulation of about two million.
Ms. Mair, who has renamed her Twitter account “BeingSuedByDevinNunes,” accused the congressman of attempting to muzzle her First Amendment right to free speech.
“Translation: Nunes wants to stifle your, my, and every other Americans’ free speech despite having taken an oath of office to support and defend the First Amendment, an integral part of the US Constitution. That’s what this is about,” Ms. Mair tweeted Tuesday.
So it looks like Devin Nunes is suing me a second time. Thanks for raising my name ID so high, Devin! But seriously folks, if you value free speech, go donate here to help fund my legal defense: https://t.co/zcYqrHn6OH
— BeingSuedByDevinNunes (@LizMair) April 9, 2019
Mr. Nunes said on Sunday he would send eight criminal referrals to the Justice Department alleging abuses by federal authorities involved in the Russia probe.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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