Conservative commentator and activist Laura Loomer has filed a lawsuit against Facebook alleging defamation and “malicious’ actions that have harmed her and her reputation, seeking a penalty of $3 billion to punish the company.
The lawsuit was announced by Larry Klayman, a former federal prosecutor and founder of Judicial Watch, and more recently the founder of Freedom Watch.
The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and alleges “that Facebook and its wholly owned sister company Instagram, in banning Ms. Loomer from the social media sites, maliciously defamed her by publishing that she is a ‘dangerous individual’ and a domestic Jewish terrorist.”
The announcement about the launch of the case by Klayman said, “This characterization of Ms. Loomer, published widely, is alleged to have severely damaged her reputation, good will and financial well-being, as well as endangered her life and caused her to have to travel with security.”
Loomer not only has advocated for conservative causes, but also has worked to enlighten the country about the growing anti-Semitism in Congress and the surging threat of Islamic terrorism.
“In this regard, she was banned by Facebook and Instagram by simply revealing the truth. Facebook and its CEO and founder Jeff Zuckerberg is a self-hating leftist Jew sympathetic of Islamic extremism,” Klayman’s announcement said.
“Laura Loomer is an American heroine, who puts principle ahead of her own safety and well being. By calling Ms. Loomer dangerous and banning her from Facebook and its related wholly owned and controlled entity Instagram, the companies have not only maliciously defamed her but in effect issued another Intifada to harm her for criticism of Reps. Omar and Tlaib and their blatant anti-Semitism. This will not stand and Facebook will be made to pay dearly for its actions,” he said.
Klayman explained as Facebook reportedly is worth some $63 billion, the damages are about 5 percent of the net worth – which he called “The standard calculation for punitive damages.”
Loomer was banned in May, at a time when Facebook stated, “We’ve always banned individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate, regardless of ideology.”
However, the lawsuit points out Facebook’s own postings say that “Dangerous individuals and organizations” are those that are involved in terrorism, organized hate, mass or serial murder, human trafficking or organized crime.
“Ms. Loomer does not fall, or come close to falling, within any of the defined groups….” the complaint states.
Instead she uses “social media” to “call out anti-Semitism, Islamic terrorism, political violence, and violence against homosexuals.”
Defendant Facebook has also maliciously defamed Ms. Loomer by falsely designating her as a ‘dangerous’ individual, which defamation was widely published in this district, nationally, and internationally.”
It calls for damages for both defamation and defamation per se.
“Plaintiff Loomer has been severely harmed and damaged by these and other false and misleading statements by Defendant Facebook, because they subjected her to hatred, distrust, ridicule, contempt, and disgrace, and the threat of severe bodily injury or death by those who are now [led] to believe that she is dangerous and a domestic terrorist against Muslims.”
After the company banished her, a Muslim advocacy group applauded Facebook’s announcement.
Madihha Ahussain, special counsel for Muslim Advocates, thanked the social media giant for taking a “positive step toward removing hate actors from the company’s platforms.”
He pointed to the shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue and the mosque massacre in New Zealand as recent examples “of the deadly consequences of hate.”
“Individuals like Laura Loomer, Alex Jones and Milo Yiannopoulos have used social media platforms to broadcast dangerous hate speech and conspiracies targeting Muslims, Jews and others,” he said. “Removing them from Facebook and Instagram will go a long way towards ensuring the safety of their users.”
A WND request for comment from Facebook generated only an automated response with a promise that they would “get back” later.