Commentator Tim Pool has filed a lawsuit against Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, alleging defamation and business interference. Pool, recognized for his influential political commentary and media projects, announced the legal action on his podcast, “Timcast IRL,” where he detailed his reasons for pursuing the case. The lawsuit, filed in West Virginia, claims that Harris’s campaign disseminated a false statement that harmed Pool’s reputation and negatively affected his business activities. Specifically, the campaign is accused of alleging that Pool was promoting pro-Russian propaganda. Pool has refuted these claims, asserting that the Harris campaign acted with malicious intent.
“Mr. Pool was damaged by the Harris Campaign’s bad faith misconduct previously described herein in addition to his expenditures for the prosecution of this action, which is necessary to clear Mr. Pool’s name and restore his reputation,” the lawsuit states. The lawsuit’s background involves allegations that Pool, along with other conservative influencers like Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson, participated in a disinformation campaign purportedly connected to Russian interests. Pool and his colleagues have been under scrutiny ever since the Biden administration accused Moscow of attempting to influence the upcoming election through U.S. influencers.
I have filed my lawsuit against @KamalaHQ
I will be going over the filing on the show at 8pm
Tim Pool Sues Kamala Harris For President, Defamation Lawsuit Filed w/Andrew Wilson | Timcast IRL https://t.co/NupCUdIiHn
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) September 17, 2024
Pool and his colleagues have strongly denied these allegations, claiming they are targets of a coordinated smear campaign. Pool, in particular, has been accused of collaborating with a U.S. content creation company that allegedly received funding from Russian sources. In August, the Justice Department asserted that Russian state media funneled $10 million to Tenet Media, the company where Pool was employed. The now-defunct firm is accused of producing pro-Russian propaganda, with its creators inadvertently spreading disinformation.
Pool’s lawsuit contends that Harris’s campaign committed defamation, resulting in considerable damage to his reputation and business. He asserts that the campaign’s purported statements were made with a reckless disregard for the truth. In defamation cases, the outcome often depends on whether the plaintiff can demonstrate that false statements were knowingly or negligently disseminated, causing harm to their reputation. Additionally, Pool accuses the Harris campaign of acting in bad faith, suggesting that their actions were not merely accidental but intentionally malicious. He is seeking damages, although the specific amount has not yet been revealed.
The lawsuit was prompted by a post on the KamalaHQ account—the official press account of Harris’s campaign—which featured a video clip of Pool speaking. “Trump operatives say their Project 2025 plan is to give Trump total, unchecked legal power so they can jail and execute those who don’t support Trump if he wins,” Kamala HQ wrote on X on August 31.
“Should Democrats be in jail? No question,” Pool asked on his podcast. “When Donald Trump gets elected should he start locking them up? No question. Should there be lists of Democrats that need to go to jail, one hundred percent. And the reason for that is they committed crimes.”
WATCH:
Trump operatives say their Project 2025 plan is to give Trump total, unchecked legal power so they can jail and execute those who don’t support Trump if he wins
(They have since scrubbed this video from YouTube) pic.twitter.com/z6VVtthKr4
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 31, 2024
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.