An excerpt from today's decision in Loomer v. Maher, by Judge James Moody (M.D. Fla.):
[According to] the Complaint[,] Plaintiff Laura Loomer is a "well-known conservative investigative journalist." Loomer is also a "conservative, Republican, Jewish female activist." In the past, Loomer has worked for Canadian news publisher The Rebel Media as well as Project Veritas. Loomer also has her own media company called Illoominate Media, which operates in this circuit. Loomer was a Republican candidate for Florida's 11th congressional district in 2022. Defendant Bill Maher is the host of "Real Time with Bill Maher," a weekly hour-long television program that airs on Defendant Home Box Office, Inc.'s network ("HBO")….
[T]he Complaint alleges that on a September 13, 2024, episode of Maher's show "Real Time," which HBO broadcasted nationally and internationally, Maher made and published the following false, malicious, and defamatory statement of and concerning Loomer:
I think maybe Laura Loomer's in an arranged relationship to affect the election because she's very close to Trump. She's 31, looks like his type. We did an editorial here a few years ago…it was basically, who's Trump fucking? Because I said, you know, it's not nobody. He's been a dog for too long, and it's not Melania. I think we may have our answer this week. I think it might be Laura Loomer.
According to the Complaint: "In this statement, Defendant Maher makes the false statement that Ms. Loomer is in a sexual relationship with Donald Trump, who is a married man." Thus, Defendant Maher "falsely and maliciously accused Ms. Loomer of having committed adultery with Donald Trump."
