Recently Unsealed Court Records Shed Light on Why DoJ Targeted Washington Post Journalists
For months, the three reporters were left in the dark as to why the Justice Department had targeted them and who might have authorized the seizures. Now, thanks to newly unsealed court documents related to the investigation, they finally have some answers.
Federal Judge Dismisses $95 Million Defamation Suit Against Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen
A federal judge dismissed a long-running defamation suit brought by former Alabama Supreme Court Judge Roy Moore against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. The suit was filed in September 2018, after Cohen’s satirical Showtime series, “Who Is America?” aired a spot featuring Moore.
Lawsuit Against Texas Attorney General Who Blocked Critics on Twitter is Dismissed
On July 9th, nine constituents dismissed their lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after he agreed to unblock them from his Twitter account. The nine plaintiffs, who were represented by the Knight First Amendment Institute, sued Paxton in April after he blocked them for criticizing some of his policies.
Utah Police Arrest Woman for Stomping on Pro-Police Flag
A Utah Police officer is charging a 19-year-old woman with a hate crime for “stomping on a ‘Back the Blue’ sign” while “smirking in an intimidating manner,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported on July 9th. The woman could face up to a year in prison or a fine of up to $2,500 for allegedly destroying stolen property “in a manner to attempt to intimidate law enforcement.”
Trump Sues Facebook, Twitter, and Google–Claims Companies are State Actors
On July 7th, former President Donald Trump filed three separate class action lawsuits against Facebook, Twitter, and Google’s YouTube, claiming that the social media platforms censor him and other conservatives.
The Supreme Court's ruling in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. was a big victory for cheerleader Brandi Levy. Still, George Washington Law Professor and student speech expert Catherine J. Ross warns that the decision left unanswered many questions regarding school's authority to regulate off-campus speech.
Former Fox News Anchor Sues Network for Defamation Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Henry was fired from his job as co-presenter of “American Newsroom” in 2020 after his former colleague, Jennifer Eckhart, accused him of raping her in 2017. Henry denies all of the allegations and claims the network knew he was innocent when they fired him.
Federal Judge Blocks Florida’s Social Media Law
On June 30th, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida Tallahassee Division granted a request for a preliminary injunction barring Florida from enforcing a new law that substantially limits social media companies' ability to moderate their platforms.