Asked for comment on Gabbard’s suit, Clinton’s spokesman, Nick Merrill, told PEOPLE: “That’s ridiculous.” Clinton has not yet responded in court filings.
What she actually said about Gabbard last fall has been the subject of some dispute.
The 72-year-old former secretary of state and presidential candidate suggested that Gabbard, 38, was a “Russian asset” while she was interviewed on political strategist David Plouffe’sCampaign HQpodcast.
Though Clinton did not name Gabbard, the discussion makes clear it was Gabbard to whom she was referring. Merrill later confirmed that,telling NBC News, “If the nesting doll fits…”
During the episode, Plouffe said to her that “one of the reasons [Trump] was able to win is the third party vote,” and Clinton agreed.
She later said, “They’re also going to do third party again. And I’m not making any predictions, but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate. She’s the favorite of the Russians.”
The “she” here referred to Gabbard, but the “they” in grooming referred to Republicans, not Russians, according to Clinton’s spokesman — though others who heard her remarks were initially confused.
The “Russian asset” remark now at the center of Gabbard’s suit was made during this part of the podcast.
“She’s the favorite of the Russians,” Clinton said, meaning Gabbard. “They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far, and that’s assuming [2016 candidate] Jill Stein will give it up. Which she might not, ’cause she’s also a Russian asset.”
“If the Russian propaganda machine, both their state media and their bot and troll operations, is backing a candidate aligned with their interests, that is just a reality, it is not speculation,” Merrill, Clinton’s spokesman, said afterward.
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Gabbard immediately responded to Clinton on Twitter —accusing her in a series of fiery messagesof being the “queen of corruption” who orchestrated a “concerted campaign to destroy my reputation.”
“In October 2019 — whether out of personal animus, political enmity, or fear of real change within a political party Clinton and her allies have long dominated — Clinton lied about her perceived rival Tulsi Gabbard. She did so publicly, unambiguously, and with obvious malicious intent,” Gabbard’s complaint states. She’s demanding a jury trial and an “appropriate amount” of compensatory, special and punitive damages.”
Gabbard further claims the interview cost her “potential donors and potential voters” and she has “suffered significant actualdamages, personally and professionally, that are estimated to exceed $50 million.” That figure is not further explained.
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Gabarrd’s lawsuit also alleges Clinton sought revenge against her after she backed Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s rival in the 2016 Democratic primary.
Brian Dunne, one of the lawyers representing Gabbard, tells PEOPLE Clinton “smeared” Gabbard’s reputation and he insists Clinton “refused” to retract what she’d said.
“One would expect someone of Mrs. Clinton’s political background to act with a greater level of maturity and responsibility, but her personal hostility toward Rep. Gabbard apparently clouded Mrs. Clinton’s reason and blinded her to U.S. defamation laws,” Dunne argues.
He adds: “Rep. Gabbard must defend her good name.”
source: people.com
