Benny Johnson sued for defamation is at the center of a new lawsuit filed by two Illinois protesters who say the pro-Trump influencer falsely depicted them as left-wing terrorists who assaulted federal officers during a demonstration outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.
One plaintiff, Kyle Frankovich, says he first encountered Johnson when the podcaster filmed him and others being detained outside the ICE site in Broadview, Illinois, last October. In one video, Johnson said, “These individuals assaulted ICE officers as they were trying to clear out the area behind us over here.”
Johnson recorded the videos while traveling with then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and then Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino, according to the complaint.
Benny Johnson sued for defamation after ICE protest detentions
The lawsuit, filed Friday by Frankovich and fellow protester Maureen Foody, alleges Johnson knew his statements were false. Frankovich says he was in a designated free-speech area observing and filming when he was thrown to the ground and arrested.
He recalled seeing apparent civilians in reflective vests recording, and, after spotting Noem, concluded they were filming propaganda and using protesters as props. Both plaintiffs say they were released without charges.
Images showing Frankovich with zip ties on his wrists, with his tattoos visible, later appeared in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruiting materials posted online.
Frankovich, a data scientist at Harvard University, and Foody, a court reporter, say Johnson’s videos triggered ongoing fears of violence and professional harm. Frankovich says he later saw social media posts wrongly identifying him as a Chicago antifa leader.
He described messages from users calling to find his address and stop him, prompting him and his partner to change routines, including never walking their dog alone and watching for suspicious activity near their home.
Johnson, who has millions of followers across social platforms and whose footage aired on Fox News, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“Benny Johnson is a key part of Trump’s malignant disinformation ecosystem that has spread lies and propaganda with impunity,” said Karriane Jones of Evergreen Legal Strategies, the firm leading the case. She said the lawsuit aims to hold him and other actors accountable for harms caused by falsehoods.
Federal officials generally enjoy immunity from defamation claims, but legal experts say the allegations against Johnson illustrate a broader tactic used during the Trump administration to shape the information environment.
Rachel Goodman, special counsel at Protect Democracy, said that in addition to attempts to discredit nonpartisan media, the strategy has included working closely with politically aligned influencers to create and distribute content. Protect Democracy is not involved in this lawsuit.
The case comes as federal immigration enforcement and political messaging remain flashpoints, following earlier controversies such as DHS says no plans for ICE at polls as advocates mobilize.
