Failed Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore and his wife Kayla Moore on Monday sued several people, including three of his accusers, for what the pair alleged yet again were defamatory claims made against Roy Moore.
Such claims, which include sexual misconduct allegations made publicly by several women, had a huge impact on Moore’s campaign. The former Republican candidate has already counter-sued one of his accusers, Leigh Corfman, who sued him for defamation.
Moore’s new suit alleges that three of his accusers — Corfman, Debbie Wesson Gibson and Tina Johnson — demonstrated via their personal histories and social media posts that they were motivated to lie about him.
Johnson’s house burned down in January, weeks after she alleged Moore sexually assaulted her. Investigators ultimately said the cause of the fire was “undetermined.”
The suit also accuses another man, Richard Hagedorn, of being motivated by a ruling Moore made against him years ago to convey false information to the Washington Post.
Moore’s suit says Hagedorn “escorted [the Washington Post’s] reporters for several days in Etowah County and attended meetings with other individuals, including Corfman and Wesson to further the false and malicious attacks on the character and reputation of Judge Moore.”
The suit notes Hagedorn failed to tell media outlets that Moore held him in contempt of court in 1994 “for non-payment of past-due alimony and child support amounting with interest to $63,154.33.”
A spokesperson for the Post declined TPM’s request for comment. Hagedorn, contacted via his Facebook page, did not immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment.
The Moores alleged the defendants “have committed libel and slander against Judge Moore by making statements which were false, malicious, and made with intentional or reckless disregard of the truth and with the intent that those statements be published to others including through state and national media.”
The suit also alleges the defendants “conspired and associated with each other in a common design and purpose for the political objective of defaming the character and reputation of Roy and Kayla Moore in such manner as to cause them to experience disgrace, shame and contempt.”
Several formal allegations follow, including of defendants’ negligence, wantonness, defamation, negligent infliction of emotional distress, intentional infliction of emotional distress, outrage, and civil conspiracy.
Read the lawsuit below, and below that, the statement Kayla Moore sent reporters to accompany it from attorney Melissa Isaak (formatting hers):
Today, Judge Roy Moore and his wife, Kayla, jointly filed an action for defamation and political conspiracy against those women who have falsely and maliciously accused him of sexual misconduct, and others who were part of the conspiracy.
Melissa Isaak, Judge Moore’s attorney, released the following statement:
“The people of Alabama deserve to know the truth, that the accusations made against Judge Moore during the U. S. Senate campaign arose from a political conspiracy to destroy his personal reputation and defeat him in the special Senate election for United States Senate.
Although over $40 million was spent to defeat Judge Moore, he remained 11 points ahead of his opponent in the polls prior to publication of the accusations. With only 32 days left before the special election 3 women, (not 9 as the press would have you believe), made false and malicious allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Moore dating back 40 years. Those accusations were made within a few days of each other and made only to ruin and destroy the good name, character, and reputation of Judge Moore.
Having served as a deputy district attorney, circuit judge, and Chief Justice of Alabama on 2 separate occasions, Judge Moore had never before received a complaint or report of any offensive conduct.
Judge Moore is a graduate of West Point and a Vietnam Veteran, and has been married over 32 years to his wife Kayla. They have four children and five grandchildren. He has filed this action not only to hold accountable those who are guilty of slanderous and libelous conduct, but also to restore his good name, character, and reputation with the people of Alabama.”
I blame Sassy!
Roy Moore is just really pissed off because Jesus didn’t schedule the Second Coming to coincide with his Senatorial campaign.
But as the famous saying goes, “He who lives by the teenage high school girl’s panties, dies by the teenage high school girl’s panties.” I think Walter Scott said that, but don’t quote me.
Leigh Corfman voted for Trump. #gettingitoutoftheway
I look forward to the lawsuit being dismissed with extreme prejudice. Although it is Alabama, so I probably shouldn’t hold my breath.
I prefer the original Robert Burns: “Hay that live by the wee lassie’s knickers…”