Dem woman accused of slandering media personality

 DC DAILY JOURNAL:

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On Thursday, maverick journalist Matt Taibbi launched a $10 million libel lawsuit against a Democratic congresswoman, alleging she wrongly branded him a s*xual harasser and broadcast the accusation across her social media channels.

Taibbi took aim at Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D., Calif.) in a New Jersey federal court, charging that she dubbed him a “serial s*xual harasser” during a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on Tuesday focused on digital censorship.

“These statements are demonstrably false and were made with actual malice—either with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for their truth,” reads Taibbi’s legal filing.

“The allegations echo prior false claims that have been the subject of legal action and multiple public corrections, of which Defendant was undoubtedly aware, evidencing her actual malice.”

Kamlager-Dove kicked off the hearing by slamming Republicans for “elevating a serial s*xual harrasser as their star witness.” While her remarks in the chamber are shielded by the Constitution’s Speech and Debate Clause, Taibbi contends her online megaphone—blasting those same statements—crosses the line, as it’s unrelated to her legislative role.

The congresswoman uploaded a transcript of her comments to her official website and pushed out video clips on X and Bluesky, a left-leaning social media hub.

“After this, Republicans gave Matt Taibbi time to defend himself. It’s telling that he didn’t,” she posted on both X and Bluesky.

National Review has sought a response from Kamlager-Dove’s office.

No woman has ever formally accused or charged Taibbi with s*xual harassment. The congresswoman seems to be pointing to a tongue-in-cheek passage from a book Taibbi co-wrote about crafting a Moscow nightlife guide in 1990s Russia.
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I have seen no evidence that Kamlager-Dove was a victim of the alleged conduct.  In fact, I have seen no allegations by any alleged victims.  She will have to produce any such evidence at a trial if she, in fact, has any.