DO NOT CALL HIM A WHITE SUPREMACIST

Huffington Post, writer face $1 million libel suit - plaintiff alleges he was falsely labeled white supremacist

By Marian Johns

Southeast Texas Record
January 23, 2020

HOUSTON — The Huffington Post and one of its writers is facing a $1 million libel suit filed by Charles Johnson who alleges he was falsely labeled a white supremacist.

Charles Johnson filed a complaint Jan. 16 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Verizon CMP Holdings LLC, huffpost.com Inc., and Andy Campbell alleging libel.

According to the complaint, Johnson is involved with "conservative political causes." He alleges that a Feb. 17, 2019 Huffington Post article authored by Campbell titled "2 GOP Lawmakers Host Chuck Johnson, Holocaust-Denying White Nationalist" was a "hit job" suggesting he was a "white supremacist, white nationalist and anti-Semitic."

Johnson seeks monetary relief in excess of $1 million, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Joseph Sibley of Camara & Sibley. LLP in Houston.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:20-CV-00179

EDITOR’S NOTE: Here is an excerpt from the complaint:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTFOR THE SOUTHERNDISTRICT OF TEXASHOUSTON DIVISIO

III.FACTS

1.The framers of the Constitution wanted to ensure that the First Amendment would protect a free press so that no state action could ever inhibit or limit the free dissemination of information to the people of the Republic for which the Constitution stands. It is a noble ambition that is distinctively American and sets the standard for the rest of the world.

2.But the First Amendment does not just protect a free press –it also protects the freedom of speech of every American, whether or not they have access to the power of the mainstream media to trumpet their views. Ironically, however, state action is not the greatest contemporary threat to free speech. It is rather the “free press”.

3.This is because publicly stating a fact or giving an opinion must be self-censored to ensure that one does not risk being labeled by the press with a loathsome term that brings with it stigma and ostracization that could result in losing a career, public scorn and humiliation, and even the risk of physical harm. Once these labels are given—in this digital age—they are permanent and scar a reputation for indefinite duration with a simple internet search.

4.For many years, there were few of these loathsome labels that Americans dreaded more than “racist”. However, new terms have arisen that carry an equally chilling effect on free speech and equally devastating assault on one’s reputation.

5.The terms “white nationalist”, “holocaust denier”, and “white supremacist” are the new buzz terms used to describe a myriad of person on the political right who may have views that diverge from mainstream politics. While there are some who truly espouse view of a “whites only” nation, view whites as superior, or who truly deny that atrocities were committed against Jewish people during the Second World War, these terms are often misapplied to persons who not only reject such views but, in fact, abhor those beliefs.

6.Plaintiff Charles Johnson is one such person. Johnson is undeniably involved with conservative political causes. He absolutely believes that there was a systematic campaign to commit atrocities against Jewish people during the Second World War. He absolutely does not believe that America should be a nation only for white people. Nor does he believe that white people are “superior” to other races of humanbeings. In fact, he has a child who is non-white.

7.Nevertheless, on February 17, 2019, the notoriously left-leaning TheHuffington Post ran a hit job on Johnson, with a headline that read “2 GOP Lawmakers Host Chuck Johnson, Holocaust-Denying White Nationalist” (the “Article”). See https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-reps-host-chuck-johnson-holocaust-denying-white-nationalist_n_5c40944be4b0a8dbe16e670a.

8.The Article went on to suggest that Johnson was a white supremacist and claimed that Johnson was “widely known” as a white nationalist. It also suggested that Johnson was anti-Semitic.

9.The Article was authored by Campbell and published by Campbell, Verizon Media, and Huffpost.

10.As a result of these false statements of fact of and concerning Johnson, his reputation has been damaged and he has suffered actual damages and reputational injuryin excess of $1,000,000.00.