Jason Miller, a former member of President Trump’s communication team and ex-CNN commentator, filed a lawsuit on October 15, 2018 against Gizmodo Media Group, the parent company of Splinter.com, and the site’s managing editor Katherine Krueger. The $100 million-dollar lawsuit was filed in the southern district of Florida with a request for a jury trial. Miller’s complaint alleges that a story posted on Splinter.com caused him to lose his job at CNN and ruined his reputation. The article accuses Miller of slipping an abortion pill to a woman he impregnated through an affair. The article claims the pill caused the termination of the woman’s pregnancy as well as severe illness.
Miller is suing Gizmodo and Krueger on five counts: (1) defamation, (2) tortious interference with advantageous business relationships, (3) intentional infliction of emotional distress, (4) invasion of privacy and (5) conspiracy. He claims the lawsuit was concocted by A.J. Delgado, a former colleague with whom Miller had an affair and fathered a child. A.J. and Miller are also currently in Miami-Dade family court for disputes surrounding their parental roles. Miller’s complaint alleges A.J. initially used the rumours to try and “intimidate and coerce Miller into agreeing to unreasonable and controlling positions in the Family Case.” Later, A.J. allegedly brought the information to news sources to attempt and receive financial and personal gains.
Miller believes Splinter published the story, at best, without any verification to its truth and, at worst, with full knowledge it was false. Included in the complaint is the supposed testimony of Jane Doe revealing the falsity of the story against Miller.
A representative for Gizmodo issued a statement saying, “We have not yet been served with the complaint and will respond more fully when we have had a chance to review it. GMC stands by its reporting and its reporter.”
Katherine Khazal is an Entertainment Highlight Contributor for the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law and a current first year student at Harvard Law School (Class of 2021).
Image: “CNN”, Josh Hallett, CC BY 2.0