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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
World
Chelsie Napiza

Judge Tosses Laura Loomer Defamation Suit Against HBO After She Claimed Maher Ruined Her Reputation Over Affair With Trump Jokes

Laura Loomer Bill Maher Donald Trump HBO Kash Patel Lawsuit
Laura Loomer and Trump Affair Claim (Credit: photo: screenshot on X)

A federal judge has thrown out Laura Loomer's defamation lawsuit against Bill Maher and HBO, ruling that on-air jokes suggesting she was having a sexual affair with Donald Trump were protected speech, not actionable statements of fact.

US District Judge James S. Moody Jr., sitting in the Middle District of Florida, granted summary judgment in favour of Maher and HBO on 22 April 2026, ending the case across all counts before it could reach a jury.

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