Fact Checking

Gateway Pundit Declares Bankruptcy Amid Defamation Lawsuits

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Jim Hoft, founder of the conspiracy theory website Gateway Pundit, announced that the company is declaring bankruptcy while battling ongoing defamation lawsuits. The parent company, TGP Communications, is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections in the Southern District of Florida due to what Hoft describes as “progressive liberal lawfare attacks against our media outlet.”

The site, known for publishing falsehoods and conspiracy theories, is facing a notable lawsuit from Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. They sued Gateway Pundit, Hoft, his twin brother, and website contributor Joe Hoft for defamation and emotional distress, alleging that the site falsely claimed they manipulated the vote count in favor of Joe Biden.

The Hofts have defended their coverage, claiming they genuinely believed the election was stolen and did not knowingly defame Freeman and Moss. Their counterclaim was dismissed, and Freeman and Moss’s suit is currently awaiting trial.

The Trump campaign played a significant role in spreading misinformation about Freeman and Moss. They also sued Rudy Giuliani for his role in disseminating lies about their work. A jury awarded Freeman and Moss $148 million in damages in that defamation suit last year. Giuliani, too, filed for bankruptcy.

Gateway Pundit is also named in a defamation suit brought by a former employee of Dominion, the voting machine company vilified by Trump and his allies. The case, brought by Eric Coomer, can proceed, according to a recent ruling by a Colorado appeals court panel. Despite its often-untethered coverage, Gateway Pundit has played an outsize role in the conservative mediasphere, though its traffic peaked in 2020.