Who would have thought that Devin Nunes, who left Congress to run former President Trump’s media company, would be accused of mismanagement and cronyism?
Well, it’s me for one thing.
It’s not that I’m an oracle. But I’ve only been following Nunes’ career as a hyper-litigious Trump apologist who suffers from world-class intolerance for perceived disrespect.
Before taking the helm of Trump Media in 2022, Nunes earned a master’s degree in agriculture but had little actual business experience. He was involved with his family’s San Joaquin Valley dairy farm decades ago. He recalls that when he was 14 years old, he bought seven young cows to raise and sell. I think this explains his tolerance for the stench of, oh, MAGA bulls.
Placing Nunes at the head of an emerging media empire is an odd move given his disdain for the media in general and free speech in particular, as evidenced by a series of lawsuits against news organizations and other critics. It was–unless the company was going to pander to everyone. deep-hearted type people who would do it advantage From the second Trump administration.
According to Document obtained by ProPublicaan anonymous whistleblower in Trump Media recently called on the company’s board of directors to fire Nunes. A person familiar with the situation told ProPublica that the complaint alleges “misappropriation of funds, employment of foreign contractors and interference with product development.” (Trump media spokesperson) denied the charges He accused nonprofit journalism organizations of running a campaign to damage the company. )
confusion Followed by: Company chief operating officer And the chief product officer resigned. Either way, with little revenue to speak of and no sign that the company’s Truth Social can compete with major social media platforms, analysts are considering Trump Media & Technology Group. meme stock. Its value is based entirely on the values that Trump supporters hold dear. he.
Trump Media’s stock price has risen in recent weeks as polls tighten and the prospect of a second term for Trump approaches. There was a big backlash from sudden fall. Incredibly, the company is worth about $6 billion, and Trump’s 59% stake is worth more than that. 3 billion dollars. But if Trump loses in November, soaring valuations will be gone.
“It’s really simple,” said Matthew Tuttle, CEO of Tuttle Capital Management. told CNN. “People are realizing that if Trump gets elected, this stock could do something. And if he’s not elected, it’s probably going to go to zero.”
In any case, Nunes and his company have Mustard is litigating fate. Between 2019 and 2023, he filed at least 11 lawsuits, including a defamation suit against Twitter parody accounts posing as cows and mothers. He also tried to sue Twitter, but a judge ruled that social media companies are protected by the Communications Decency Act, which gives these online platforms immunity from civil liability.
Nunez McClatchy also filed a lawsuit. The company that owns his hometown newspaper, the Fresno Bee, was arrested for defamation. He sought $150 million in damages but ultimately dropped the case.
In 2019, he sued Fresno-area activists who were campaigning to force Nunes to stop calling himself a “farmer” on ballots. Nunes went quiet after that. dropped the lawsuit.
It’s been a very busy year for Nunes’ lawyers. He also sued Hearst and journalist Ryan Rizza. esquire story The claim — in a light-hearted and bogus investigative style — alleges that Nunes’ family secretly moved a dairy operation to Iowa and insinuated that it employed illegal immigrants. After several court hearings, the lawsuit was dismissed last year.
Let’s take a look. who else did it co-sponsor Was there a law enacted that year that prevented frivolous lawsuits?
He targeted the liberal nonprofit Campaign for Accountability and the research firm Fusion GPS, the source of the infamous Steele dossier containing unconfirmed gossip about Trump. Nunes, then the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, claimed the organization conspired to obstruct his investigation into the Steele dossier. the lawsuit He was laid off in 2020.
The lawsuit-happy former dairy farmer sued CNN for defamation after the network reported he traveled to Vienna to badmouth Joe Biden. The lawsuit, which sought $435 million, was dismissed in 2021.
In 2022, Nunes sues CNN againand its host Jake Tapper reported that Nunes reposted an offensive MAGA meme about Paul Pelosi on Truth Social. Pelosi, the husband of former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was attacked by an unknown man in his San Francisco home. Nunes’ lawyers say Tapper said Nunes “is of a depraved mind, has engaged in immoral, fraudulent, and unprofessional conduct, has spread lies about Paul Pelosi, and has shown contempt for Paul Pelosi.” He claimed that he had insinuated that he had defamed his reputation. (I couldn’t have put it any better myself.) The case was dismissed in 2023.
I can only find one instance where Nunes was not essentially laughed at outside of court. In 2021, he sued MSNBC’s parent company, NBCUniversal, alleging he was defamed by Rachel Maddow when she said she did not turn over a package she received from Russian agents to the FBI. In 2022, the judge handed down the verdict It argued it was plausible that Mr. Maddow knew the allegations were false and allowed the lawsuit to proceed.
My favorite Nunes empty legal threat is the one he once made against fellow Democratic congressman Ted Lieu of Torrance, California. Liu said Nunes was in cahoots with Lev ParnasRussian-born associate of Rudy Giuliani, weaken the US government. (In 2021, Parnas was sentenced to prison for illegal donations to the Trump campaign in 2020, and just last month, Tears apologize to Hunter Biden For pushing the Trump/Giuliani/Nunez-supported lie that Joe Biden, as Vice President, took action in Ukraine in his son’s interests).
“We welcome any litigation from our clients and look forward to Congressman Nunes’ findings.” Ryu answered. “Or you can take the letter and shove it in.”
I think they imposed it. Miraculously, no lawsuit was filed.
thread: @rabcarian
