Journalist Matt Taibbi has filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove after she publicly accused him of being a “serial sexual harasser” during a congressional hearing.
Quick Takes
- Taibbi filed the lawsuit in New Jersey federal court seeking $10 million in damages after Rep. Kamlager-Dove labeled him a “serial sexual harasser” during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing
- The congresswoman repeated her accusations on social media platforms X and BlueSky, as well as on her official congressional website
- Taibbi strongly denies the allegations, asserting that no woman has ever accused him of sexual harassment
- The accusations were reportedly based on a fictional chapter in a book Taibbi co-wrote, which all parties agree is not factual
- Critics view the accusations as an attempt to discredit Taibbi’s work exposing censorship in media and social platforms
Serious Allegations Lead to Legal Action
Independent journalist Matt Taibbi has taken decisive legal action against Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) following what he describes as false and defamatory statements made during an official congressional proceeding. The $10 million libel lawsuit, filed in New Jersey federal court, stems from comments Kamlager-Dove made during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing where she referred to Taibbi as a “serial sexual harasser.” The congresswoman didn’t stop at the hearing, subsequently repeating her accusations on social media platforms X and BlueSky, and even publishing them on her official congressional website, significantly amplifying their reach and potential damage to Taibbi’s reputation.
According to court documents, Kamlager-Dove stated 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.'” Taibbi, who has gained significant attention for his reporting on the “Twitter Files” and media censorship issues, maintains that these allegations are completely false and damaging to his professional standing. Republicans at the hearing reportedly allowed Taibbi time to defend himself against the accusations, but he did not respond during the proceeding, choosing instead to pursue legal remedies.
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
Accusations Based on Fiction
The sexual harassment allegations appear to be based on a fictional chapter in a book Taibbi co-authored years ago, not on any actual complaints from women. According to sources familiar with the situation, all parties involved acknowledge that the book chapter in question was not factual. Taibbi has forcefully stated that no woman has ever accused him of sexual harassment, making Kamlager-Dove’s characterization particularly damaging. The journalist has publicly challenged the congresswoman to face the legal proceedings, suggesting confidence in his position and determination to clear his name.
Critics of Kamlager-Dove’s actions suggest that her comments represent an attempt to discredit Taibbi’s work exposing censorship in media and social media platforms. This incident follows other challenges Taibbi has faced, including an IRS audit after his testimony on the Twitter Files. These circumstances have led some observers to question whether these are coordinated efforts to undermine journalists who challenge established narratives about information control and censorship in American media ecosystems.
Congresswoman’s Controversial History
Rep. Kamlager-Dove has established a record of making bold public statements and taking controversial positions during her political career. She notably walked out of President Trump’s State of the Union address, and in 2019 she authored a resolution aimed at discouraging financial institutions from lending to gun manufacturers and retailers, arguing that: “You cannot have a gun if the gun has not been made… you cannot sell a gun that has not been made.”
The outcome of this legal battle may have significant implications for the boundaries of congressional speech and the remedies available to private citizens who believe they have been defamed by elected officials during official proceedings. Legal experts note that while members of Congress enjoy certain protections for statements made during official business, those protections are not unlimited—particularly when comments are repeated outside the legislative context, as Kamlager-Dove did on social media and her official website. The case continues to develop as both parties prepare for what could be a lengthy legal process.
