A federal judge has thrown out the latest defamation lawsuit against The Intercept by Erik Prince, the billionaire founder of the private security firm formerly known as Blackwater.
But Prince refuses to give up.
Prince’s defamation suits against The Intercept have now been tossed out three times, but he’s filed notice of an appeal.
This is the weaponization of libel law: billionaires using their deep pockets to chill journalism. Lawsuits like these drain news organizations of time and money. The Intercept refuses to back down or be distracted from our core mission.
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The weaponization of libel law is simply a fact of life for journalists today. Big corporations including tobacco giants and billionaires like Peter Thiel have used libel suits to silence unfavorable news coverage.
Lawsuits like these don’t have to be successful in court to have a chilling effect on journalism. By forcing news outlets to defend themselves, defamation lawsuits send a message loud and clear: Investigating the rich and powerful could come at a steep cost.
We’ll never back down in the face of this kind of legal bullying. The Intercept has some of the best investigative reporters in the world — and our legal team includes top First Amendment litigators who simply don’t fold under pressure.
Our nonprofit newsroom depends on the support of readers like you to continue this crucial work.
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