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The Protestors Benny Defamed Finally Come After Him
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A year ago, I wrote this:Where Noem’s urge to create propaganda may get her in trouble is how she invited Russia’s useful idiot, Benny Johnson, to tag along wearing Border Patrol armor.
Among other things Benny did on his cosplay cop caper was to post a video of protestors as they were being arrested, claiming they were being arrested for “VIOLENT ASSAULT.”
Of the Federal charges filed since then, just one has been from Broadview (it was assault, but even that one sounds like someone charged for being pushed by the Feds). If, in fact, these people weren’t charged — much less with assault — this would be slander. Since he was dolled up as a “Border Patrol Federal Agent,” even if they were arrested, this will be a privacy violation that might endanger any charges the Feds tried to file. [my pink emphasis because it’s Friday again]
Yesterday, lawyers for two of these protestors (including several from the same firm that is suing on behalf of Renee Good’s family), did just that:
205. On October 5, 2025, Defendants posted on Mr. Johnson’s X account the full twelve minute edited video account, produced by Mr. Johnson and Benny Media LLC, of their ride-along with Kristi Noem. That video shows Plaintiffs sitting with their hands bound in a line of detained protesters guarded by law enforcement. Mr. Johnson describes them as “left-wing terrorists arrested for attacking police officers and ICE officers,” and says “[t]hese individuals assaulted ICE officers as they were trying to clear out the area.” The post stated: “I rode with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE on intense raids across left-wing violence ridden Chicago. From tunnels under Trump Tower to the most targeted ICE facility, we faced violent Antifa, chaos, and criminals on the run.”
206. The statements in the X post and video that Plaintiffs are “terrorists,” “criminals on the run,” were “arrested for attacking police officers and ICE officers,” and “assaulted ICE officers,” as well as the suggestion that Mr. Johnson saw Plaintiffs behave this way, are each false and defamatory.
207. Each statement was intended to convey, and was understood to convey, the false factual assertions that Plaintiffs were not peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights, but instead were engaged in acts of terrorism, violence, and assault against law enforcement, and that Defendants witnessed Plaintiffs engaging in these acts.
208. Each statement is of and concerning Plaintiffs—who are identifiable in the video by their faces and distinctive features and who were recognized by members of their communities.
209. Each statement is libelous per se in that each imputes that Plaintiffs have committed crimes and tends to prejudice Plaintiffs in their profession.
210. Each statement was published to a worldwide platform and, upon information and belief, has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
Even more than hoping these people get paid, I’m hoping we get to learn both about the arrangement DHS made with Benny for this cosplay, and — more importantly — who has been funding Benny since his Russian gravy train was exposed.
The post The Protestors Benny Defamed Finally Come After Him appeared first on emptywheel.
