Devin Nunes Loses Defamation Appeal Over Esquire Article

A federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of Nunes' lawsuit, citing lack of evidence for damages caused by the 2018 article.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Devin Nunes and his family's defamation claims regarding allegations in a 2018 Esquire article about undocumented labor at their Iowa dairy farm.
Nunes failed to provide evidence of special damages, including any economic harm, reputational damage, or impact on his political or professional career due to the article.
The court noted that Nunes' campaign funding increased significantly across election cycles, and his post-Congress employment as CEO of Truth Social was unaffected by the publication.
The NuStar plaintiffs, representing Nunes' family farm, also failed to demonstrate economic harm or reputational damage, with evidence showing increased revenues after the article's publication.
The case highlights the challenges of proving defamation claims and underscores calls for stronger anti-SLAPP laws to deter frivolous lawsuits aimed at silencing journalists.