Post

Today, #KashPatel sent a letter to my counsel @markzaidesq.bsky.social threatening to sue & demanding I retract my MSNBC comments on his unfitness to serve as FBI Director. This follows his threats against media & political opponents, showing how he might act if confirmed. I stand by my statements.

17.3K reposts70.6K likes

His lawyers are basically threatening defamation. But there are two parts they would have to prove in order to succeed in such a suit. First they would have to show that you lied in your MSNBC statement. That as a direct consequence of that lie to have suffered demonstrable financial damages.

Without both of these items they can not prevail. He would have to have already lost the job opportunity in order for the court to even consider his petition to redress his claim of defamation. Prior to such damage, or absent prevarication there is no case. And his law firm knows this.

And with any luck Trumplestiltskin's deportation policy will see Kash sent to East Africa. Send this fkr's parents too, just in case they get excited and pop another little MAGA moron out.

Yes. But that alone doesn't provide enough to sue for defamation. He would have to show that he didn't get the gig due to specific statements made. And he would have to show that there was a lie. If I truthfully reveal something that damages you. That's free speech, not defamation.

They know they have NO case in front of an unbiased judge. They hope to land w/ a trump hand-picked 'judge' while costing the innocent defendant $$$$$. Intimidation and cruelty is the point.

Perhaps so on judge shopping. Attempted intimidation is I think doubtless in this case. But there's another angle here. Publicity, by goading the target of this demand for retraction into publishing their work. They have basically gained free advertising.

There's the easy part. There's plenty of documentation around about the Nigerian situation he was involved in. He just keeps saying he wasn't in the room with everyone else. The truth is that he had no business being in the room. He likes to assert himself where he's not needed.

These MAGA males have a complete misunderstanding of what an alpha-male is. They are in no way protective and supportive. And they certainly can’t read social clues. They are just cruel bullies!

And that’s what going to be happening every time someone put him & them on blast they gonna threatened ppl with suit. Well I say suit on bcuz it’s not gonna stop the truth from being said or done…

A legal defense fund should be created for use by targets of expected non meritorious lawsuits by MAGAs like Patel against you and everyone else they target.

So, wow. What an arrogant @$$hole. Those crazy eyes are enough to make him unfit to serve such a high office. Or even a low office. Any farmer would have put him out of his misery a long time ago just for having those crazy eyes.

Bully tactics. I've seen stuff like this before. I once saw a very similar letter written to a media company during a political advertising season about claims made by another opponent in an ad. As much as they try to intimidate media outlets, they don't have a leg to stand on.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.[6] Woe be to us if he’s in

Thank you for standing strong and doing so much to help us defend our Democracy. I only wish that strength of character and love of Country (our Country) was as contagious as Covid: by now, you would have opened so many more eyes and helped to strengthen many more backbones.

Uphold WHAT reputation? Seems your comments actually upheld his earned reputation quite well. If only idiots like Kash understood that reputation is in the eye of the beholder, not the subject. Are there laws against lawyers taking money from clients who are sure to lose?

Yep. And the weird thing is that Sleazy Don and his MAGA cult indulge in it constantly while demanding that they have the right to lie and therefore the lies must be shown respect because they're protected speech. It's the most bizarre and preverted thing in modern civics.

The First Amendment doesn’t protect you from defamation lawsuits from a private citizen. Rudy wasn’t protected from lawsuits by Ruby and Shaye, and now he owes millions. That being said, I’ll take her word over his and to win he will have to face disclosure as well. That should be fun

It's an empty threat. He's a public person. For context, compare it to what Donald Trump says day in and day out about people he perceives as enemies, like Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and dozens of others. And if he even tries to sue, outraged Americans will cover her costs.

So they want to silence criticisms yet they are the ones that are being petty going after anyone who deemed #OrangeCaligula a threat or even brought up cases to which he was found guilty of?

PATEL IS DANGEROUS Trump rewarding Kash Patel to become the new FBI director tells you very precisly what awaits. Hunting down people supporting Biden and believing 2020 was not rigged. Eliminating democracy by weakening your opponents in any way possible just like in Russia. Fascism.

We certainly know Trump already soon will need something to distract attention away from his immature catastrofic policies and lack of positiv results. He will keep lying but also need scapegoats. Lets not fall for this. He is way, way too dangerous. Ukraine, tariffs, democracy, deportations, ...

And to think we had the time to prosecute Trump immediately after Garland was sworn in but INSTEAD he waited almost two years, letting Trump lie and lie and lie about 2020 with no pushback from the MSM only to now have all of his cases dismissed and in charge of the government. what a fuckup.

Perhaps the only thing he is good at is being a successful crime boss, having had a lifetime to learn how to manipulate the legal system. If Garland filed before before all the evidentiary i's were dotted and t's crossed, the slime lord could have wriggled free.

It would behoove every Senate Republican who’s ever spoken out against Trump to examine this closely & vote on Patel’s nomination accordingly. Bring it to their attention: 202-224-3121

They won’t sue because it opens them up for discovery to prove what was said is false. Similar to the guy screaming at his buddies to “hold me back” they hide behind their lawyers.

Free speech that expresses concerns about the suitability, qualifications, & negative character traits of any GOP official, MAGA bully, or Trump... will soon be made illegal. (Fascists silent voices of reason, criticism, dissent). Thx Olivia of Troye 👏

Kash is a “public figure”, so the bar is higher to prove his lawsuit (NYT v. Sullivan). He would fare poorly in Discovery & Deposition. “Truth is an absolute defense” in libel & deposition. You are a truth teller & this is bullying / harrassment to impact you financially. Start a defense fund.

Remains mind F$#* from abroad as 🇺🇸 democracy chose Dumpf 2.0 Putin's buddy; predictably resulting in unqualified/ questionable appointments & journalists threatened?!

Does anyone know if there’s currently a PAC or other organization that’s raising funds to pay for the legal fees of journalists that have bogus litigation brought against them by the incoming administration? I would gladly make a monthly donation.

Hopefully my remark here is way-over-the-top, but I grew up in a totalitarian system, so a word of warning. Gov might go after the logistics of financing of activities it does not like. Say "supporting terrorism" charges. Use jurisdictions where such games would be harder for the feds.

Not sure about aid for journalists. But Olivia Troy’s attorney, Mark Zaid, has organized a GoFundMe for her. Check his timeline. He also co-founded Whistleblower Aid which defends whistleblowers pro bono.

WOW, Unbelievable & very sad. When people like Patel don’t have the truth on their side they resort to threats, just like Trump. So proud that you are speaking up for the truth 🙏🏻💕

Kash Patel is a seriously dangerous mental case. He should be kept out of the WH by any means possible. I want to thank you for your voice in this battle to save American democracy. Please be safe! 💙✊🏾

You're not going to get sued for saying what Patel "would do". You did the right thing by posting this. It's more evidence that he shouldn't be confirmed.

Wow. Imagine this intimidation letter coming from DOJ instead of a private sector law firm. Crazy, but in a few short months, they might & it's a mortal threat to our democracy. Luck willing, the courts don't change the defamation standard from malice to "displeases Trump & his special people."

They will fail at government because they can only react not create. They will just get angry with anyone that holds them to account and lash out.

I would say to some extent, fortunately, because while being dimwitted is extremely dangerous, if they were clever on top of b movie villainy, it would be even scarier. Although it's still scary.

Sure it does if that person is a complete fucking tool like Kash Patel and nothing you say is maliciously untrue. This same lawyer that wants to sue the journalist defended Trump’s actions on January 6th.