Independent journalist Matt Taibbi launches a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove after she publicly labeled him a “serial sexual harasser” during an official congressional hearing.
Key Takeaways
- Matt Taibbi filed a $10 million libel lawsuit against California Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove for labeling him a “serial sexual harasser” during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing
- Kamlager-Dove repeated these allegations on social media platforms and her official congressional website
- Taibbi maintains that no woman has ever accused him of sexual harassment and claims the accusations are meant to discredit his reporting on media censorship
- The allegations reportedly stem from a fictional chapter in a book Taibbi co-authored that all parties acknowledge is not factual
- The case has been filed in a New Jersey federal court where Taibbi has challenged Kamlager-Dove to face legal proceedings
Congressional Accusations Lead to Legal Action
Matt Taibbi, an independent journalist known for his investigations into media censorship, has filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against California Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove. The lawsuit stems from comments made during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing where Kamlager-Dove publicly characterized Taibbi as a “serial sexual harasser.” According to court documents filed in a New Jersey federal court, the congresswoman not only made these statements during an official government proceeding but also repeated them on social media platforms X and BlueSky, as well as on her official congressional website.
During the hearing, Kamlager-Dove suggested Republicans were “elevating a serial sexual harasser as their star witness” to distract from what she characterized as the current administration’s shortcomings. While Republicans reportedly allowed Taibbi an opportunity to defend himself during the proceedings, he did not respond to the allegations at that time. Instead, he has chosen to address the matter through legal channels, firmly denying any history of sexual harassment and asserting that no woman has ever made such accusations against him.
There is not much a person can say to a member of Congress hiding behind the speech and debate clause of the Constitution.
I can however respond to a member arrogant enough to repeat defamatory claims on social media.
See below for the $10 million libel lawsuit filed today.… https://t.co/1B58zjPSyb— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) April 3, 2025
The Context Behind the Allegations
The defamation lawsuit reveals that Kamlager-Dove’s accusations appear to be based on content from a satirical book Taibbi co-authored years ago. According to reports, the material in question comes from a fictional chapter that all involved parties acknowledge is not factual. This context has become central to Taibbi’s legal complaint, which argues that the congresswoman deliberately mischaracterized fictional writing as evidence of actual misconduct to damage his professional reputation and credibility as a journalist.
Taibbi and his supporters suggest the accusations represent a pattern of attempts to discredit his work exposing censorship in media and social media platforms. He has previously testified about the “Twitter Files,” which documented internal communications regarding content moderation decisions. Following that testimony, Taibbi reportedly faced an IRS audit, which some view as further evidence of targeting for his journalistic work that has challenged powerful institutions.
Representative’s Political Background
Kamlager-Dove has established a reputation for taking strong political stances during her time in office. Prior to this controversy, she notably walked out of President Trump’s State of the Union address. In 2019, while serving in the California legislature, she authored a resolution aimed at discouraging financial institutions from providing loans to gun manufacturers and retailers, arguing that restricting financial access would limit gun production and availability.
“You cannot have a gun if the gun has not been made… you cannot sell a gun that has not been made,” said Kamlager-Dove.
The libel case has attracted significant attention in journalistic and political circles, raising questions about the boundaries of congressional speech and accountability when making potentially defamatory statements during and after official proceedings. Taibbi has publicly challenged Kamlager-Dove to face the legal proceedings, signaling his determination to pursue vindication through the court system rather than engaging in a public relations battle. As the case progresses through the federal court in New Jersey, it may establish important precedents regarding the intersection of political speech and defamation law.
