What hell hath Peter Thiel and Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker wrought?
Bolling is using Trump's law firm to sue @yashar? https://t.co/JWOCOWeMt1
— Brad Thor (@BradThor) August 9, 2017
The Fox News host Eric Bolling is suing social media star and Huffington Post contributor Yashar, who last week reported Bolling sent grotesque sexual messages to female colleagues some years ago.
Just received a summons. Eric Bolling is suing me for defamation – $50 million in damages. I stand by my reporting + will protect my sources
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 9, 2017
Not going to stop reporting on Eric Bolling or anyone else. I've had family members killed/jailed in Iran, a lawsuit isn't going to scare me https://t.co/nvludsIV87
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 9, 2017
It's important to note that Bolling's summons does not include HuffPost – he is coming after me personally. I'm a big boy…but very telling https://t.co/nvludsIV87
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 9, 2017
I will continue to fight against these false smear attacks! THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT
— Eric Bolling (@ericbolling) August 9, 2017
From CNN:
HuffPost contributing writer Yashar Ali revealed Wednesday that he had been sent a summons by lawyers for Bolling. The summons alleges that Ali defamed Bolling, and says Bolling is seeking "an amount not less than $50 million."
Ali told CNNMoney he first learned about the summons through a reporter."I stand by my reporting + will protect my sources," Ali wrote in a tweet responding to the summons.
Ali added in a follow up tweet: "It's important to note that Bolling's summons does not include HuffPost – he is coming after me personally. I'm a big boy…but very telling."
Michael Bowe, an attorney for Bolling, told CNNMoney, "This anonymously sourced and uncorroborated story is false, defamatory, and obviously intended to destroy this good man's career and family. We will defend Eric aggressively in court, where actual facts, based on evidence, testimony, and cross-examination, will belie these anonymous accusations."
Bolling himself tweeted Wednesday evening, "I will continue to fight against these false smear attacks! THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT."
Bolling's suspension from Fox News happened after Yashar cited more than a dozen sources last Friday to report that the Fox News host texted female Fox News colleagues an "unsolicited" photo of his penis.
Michael Bowe, the allegedly dick-pickin' Mr. Bolling's lawyer, said, "The anonymous, uncorroborated claims are untrue and terribly unfair."
Yashar Ali is a careful and meticulous reporter. We stand by his reporting.
— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) August 9, 2017
Yashar Ali is a paid freelancer under contract with HuffPost. We have no hesitation about standing by him financially in this case.
— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) August 9, 2017
Should be noted the story had FOURTEEN sources and Bolling isn't suing HuffPost, the publisher that could theoretically pay $50 million https://t.co/2EhBYWXqXk
— Nathan McDermott (@natemcdermott) August 9, 2017
As horrible as this is for @yashar, I am excited for him to do discovery on Eric Bolling https://t.co/QwX9EFn38X
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) August 9, 2017
HuffPost statement on Bolling's suit against @yashar: "Yashar Ali is a careful and meticulous reporter. We stand by his reporting."
— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) August 9, 2017
.@ericbolling is suing @yashar for $50 million. https://t.co/R83QL0JXyq pic.twitter.com/CCurqHMM59
— andrew kaczynski ? (@KFILE) August 9, 2017
Here's the story that prompted Bolling's suit. @yashar had *14* sources. https://t.co/9jUOskvzDC
— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) August 9, 2017
—@yashar told me he first learned of summons from a reporter; has his own lawyer if HuffPo doesn't foot legal bill https://t.co/v9alMzozqv
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) August 9, 2017
WATCH: Eric Bolling to @MaxineWaters: "You saw what happened to Whitney Houston, step away from the crack pipe, step away from the Xanax.." pic.twitter.com/Wf6CCOTtuW
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 9, 2017
the trend of suing individual journalists instead of publications is 100% a silencing tactic, and it's almost definitely going to get worse https://t.co/nkLY5gUKpO
— Kelly Weill (@KELLYWEILL) August 9, 2017
Would help if media orgs stopped demanding indemnities in freelance contracts (and perhaps offered them instead). https://t.co/SBveOmQEyN
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) August 10, 2017
