Judge orders Devin Nunes’ family to reveal who’s funding their defamation lawsuit against journalist

A judge in Iowa has ordered the family of California GOP Rep. Devin Nunes who is funding a defamation lawsuit they brought against Hearst and journalist Ryan Lizza over a story that was published in 2018, McClatchy reports.

From McClatchy:

The judge will review the records detailing who is paying for the litigation behind closed doors before deciding whether to share them with lawyers for the reporter and publisher, meaning that there is a possibility that no one else — including those lawyers and their clients — will get to see the information.

Judge Mark Roberts of Iowa’s Northern District Court wants to know whether the congressman is involved in the family’s case, he wrote in his ruling.

Nunes, R-Tulare, shares the same lawyer as the family in other lawsuits he has filed against media companies and people he claims have defamed or conspired against him since 2019.

One of those cases is against the same reporter and magazine company over the same story about the Iowa farm. Nunes is a witness in the family’s case.

The lawsuit was filed against Lizza and Hearst over a story published in Esquire that claimed the Nunes’ family farm employed undocumented immigrants. They are seeking $20 million in damages.

Read it at McClatchy.

 

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.