Two Wyoming State House lawmakers, Cody Wylie and J.T. Larson, are suing the Wyoming Freedom PAC for defamation over claims made in mailers and texts during the recent primary election. The PAC alleged that the lawmakers had voted to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot, featuring a picture of Trump after an assassination attempt. The PAC defended its claims by referencing a vote on a budget amendment, arguing that Wylie and Larson’s votes helped efforts to remove Trump from the ballot. However, the lawmakers argue that the claims were misleading and amounted to defamation.
Wyoming-based lawyer Tamara K. Crolla explained that proving falsehood alone is not enough in defamation cases involving public figures. The U.S. Supreme Court set a precedent in 1964 that public officials must prove “actual malice” in order to succeed in a defamation suit. This means the false statement must have been made with knowledge of its falsity or reckless disregard for the truth. Crolla suggested that a settlement may be less likely in this case, as clearing their names is a top priority for the plaintiffs.
The trial is set to begin on January 31 in Green River, Wyoming. The case highlights the complexities of defamation lawsuits involving public figures and the importance of clearing one’s name in such cases.
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