Pro-Trump Influencer Benny Johnson is being sued for defamation by ICE protesters
The plaintiffs say Johnson falsely told millions of viewers they attacked agents, and their lawsuit seeks more than $75,000 in damages.
- Harvard data scientist Kyle Frankovich and contract court reporter Maureen Foody filed a defamation lawsuit against podcaster Benny Johnson on Friday, alleging he falsely portrayed them as violent extremists in videos posted last October.
- The lawsuit stems from Johnson's October 2025 videos, filmed while embedded with then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a Broadview, Illinois, ICE facility, which labeled peaceful protesters as "left-wing terrorists" who attacked officers.
- Detained but never charged, the plaintiffs argue Johnson knowingly circulated false claims, including that "all of this was false, which Mr. Johnson knew," to millions of viewers.
- Seeking damages in excess of $75,000, the lawsuit aims to hold accountable those who "serve as a mouthpiece for the government," according to attorney Karianne Jones.
- This case marks a rare defamation challenge against administration-aligned influencers, as Frankovich and Foody report lasting professional consequences and fear from being identified in Johnson's viral content.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Two protesters detained in Illinois claim that their publications falsely linked them to attacks on federal agents
Leftist Anti-ICE Protesters Sue Benny Johnson for Calling Them Terrorists * The Gateway Pundit * by Cassandra MacDonald
Two people detained outside a Chicago-area ICE facility last year are suing podcaster Benny Johnson, claiming he defamed them by calling them left-wing…
ICE Protesters Sue Pro-Trump Influencer Benny Johnson For Defamation Over "Terrorist" Claims
Two demonstrators detained outside a federal immigration facility in Broadview, Illinois have filed a defamation lawsuit against pro-Trump media figure and online influencer Benny Johnson. The plaintiffs, Kyle Frankovich and Maureen Foody, allege Johnson falsely portrayed them as “left-wing terrorists” who had assaulted federal officers during a protest last October. Frankovich, a data scientist employed […]
Benny Johnson gets sued after ICE ride-along reporting
BS BULLETIN: Two Illinois protesters are suing conservative media personality Benny Johnson for defamation over videos from an ICE protest last year. The pair say Johnson falsely portrayed them as violent criminals who assaulted federal officers and called them “left-wing terrorists.” Both protesters were detained outside the Broadview ICE facility and later released without charges. Two Illinois protesters who appeared in Benny Johnson’s viral …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 76% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
