Controversial, far-right website Gateway Pundit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Wednesday, April 24, in the face of a storm of lawsuits. The lawsuits, which include defamation claims, are from people who say they were harassed because of the site’s false 2020 election-related stories.
Media watchdogs recognize the outlet for sharing false information and conspiracy theories. Gateway Pundit blamed what it calls “progressive liberal lawfare attacks” for its financial problems.
Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss filed one of the lawsuits. The outlet accused the pair of participating in election fraud in the 2020 presidential election without any evidence. Moss and Freeman said that they faced threats and harassment because of the false information. A judge awarded them $148 million in a lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani.
Gateway Pundit also faces a lawsuit in Colorado filed by Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems. He alleged that the website falsely accused him of being involved in a conspiracy to rig the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump. Coomer is seeking damages for the harm caused to his reputation and personal life because of the story.
Co-founder of Gateway Pundit Jim Hoft said that the bankruptcy filing is to consolidate his legal filings. However, he denies that he did anything wrong. The bankruptcy could reportedly pause lawsuits against the Gateway Pundit. It does not guarantee protection against the legal rulings. Similar cases against Rudy Giuliani and conspiracy-theorist Alex Jones ended in bankruptcy despite their efforts to avoid defamation damages.
Gateway Pundit wields influence within the far-right media landscape. The website spread baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election and has promoted conspiracy theories about school shootings. Despite its small staff and simple website design, Gateway Pundit consistently ranks among the top conservative websites for readers.
