Journalist Matt Taibbi files $10 million defamation lawsuit against Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove after she publicly labeled him a “serial sexual harasser” during a congressional hearing, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle over truth and reputation.

Top Takeaways

• Matt Taibbi has filed a $10 million libel lawsuit against Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove for calling him a “serial sexual harasser” during a congressional hearing
• Kamlager-Dove repeated the accusations on social media and her official congressional website, amplifying the claims
• Taibbi asserts no woman has ever accused him of sexual harassment, and the allegations were based on fictional content from a book he co-authored
• The lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court, with Taibbi challenging the congresswoman to face legal proceedings

The Congressional Confrontation

Independent journalist Matt Taibbi, known for his investigative work on censorship in media and social platforms, has taken legal action against California Democratic Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove following damaging allegations made during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing. The congresswoman publicly described Taibbi as a “serial sexual harasser” while he was present as a witness, a statement that forms the basis of his $10 million defamation lawsuit. The accusations were particularly damaging as they were delivered during official congressional proceedings and subsequently amplified through Kamlager-Dove’s social media accounts and her official government website.

Taibbi asserts in his lawsuit that Kamlager-Dove deliberately damaged his reputation when she declared during the hearing: “To distract from the dumpster fire this administration is pursuing, she said, the Republicans were ‘elevating a serial sexual harasser as their star witness.'”

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

Fiction Mistaken as Fact

The core of the controversy stems from what Taibbi maintains was a deliberate mischaracterization of his work. According to court documents, Kamlager-Dove’s allegations were based on a fictional chapter in a satirical book Taibbi co-authored years ago, which all parties involved acknowledge is not factual. Republicans at the hearing reportedly allowed Taibbi time to defend himself against these serious accusations, but he chose not to respond during the proceedings.

The lawsuit states emphatically that no woman has ever accused Taibbi of sexual harassment, making the congresswoman’s public accusations particularly damaging to his professional reputation as a journalist. Taibbi’s legal team argues the statements were made with malicious intent and constitute clear defamation, given their public nature and the lack of factual basis for such serious accusations.

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

Political Context and Motivation

Many observers view the accusations against Taibbi as politically motivated, potentially aimed at discrediting his extensive work exposing censorship in media and social media platforms. Taibbi gained particular prominence for his reporting on the “Twitter Files,” which revealed coordination between government agencies and social media companies to suppress certain content. Following his congressional testimony on this issue, Taibbi reportedly faced an IRS audit, which some have interpreted as further evidence of government retribution for his journalistic work.

Kamlager-Dove has a history of making bold public statements on various issues. She previously walked out of President Trump’s State of the Union address in protest and authored a resolution in 2019 to discourage financial institutions from lending to gun manufacturers and retailers. During advocacy for that resolution, she stated, “You cannot have a gun if the gun has not been made… you cannot sell a gun that has not been made,” highlighting her approach to controversial policy matters.

Legal Battle Ahead

The $10 million lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court, with Taibbi publicly challenging the congresswoman to face the legal proceedings directly. Legal experts note that defamation cases involving public figures typically face a high bar for success, requiring proof not just of false statements but also of “actual malice” – meaning the defendant knew the statements were false or showed reckless disregard for their truth or falsity. However, the explicit nature of the accusations and their delivery both during and after an official congressional proceeding may strengthen Taibbi’s case.

The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how public officials characterize witnesses in congressional hearings and the potential consequences of making unsubstantiated allegations against individuals testifying before Congress. For Taibbi, the lawsuit represents not just a defense of his personal reputation but also a stand for journalistic integrity against what he views as attempts to discredit independent reporting through character assassination.