The Gateway Pundit, a far-right blog known for publishing conspiracy theories, has filed for bankruptcy protection due to litigation related to its coverage of the 2020 election. The website, which supported the false claim that the election was stolen by President Joe Biden and his allies, is facing multiple lawsuits over its bogus claims. One of the lawsuits was filed by two former Georgia election workers who were falsely accused by The Gateway Pundit of election fraud, leading to harassment and threats. Another lawsuit was filed by a former Dominion Voting Systems executive for defamation, which the outlet denies.
The founder of The Gateway Pundit, Jim Hoft, has been known for publishing hyper-partisan blog posts that spread dangerous lies and conspiracy theories. Despite the bankruptcy filing, Hoft stated that it is not an admission of fault or culpability, but a way to consolidate litigation resulting from attacks against the website. By filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the outlet aims to have the lawsuits heard in one court for resolution. Hoft made it clear that The Gateway Pundit will continue publishing throughout the litigation process.
In a federal bankruptcy court filing, The Gateway Pundit’s parent company disclosed having between $500,000 and $1 million in assets, indicating that it may not be financially stable to face a large damages award in a defamation trial. The website is among several other right-wing media outlets dealing with consequences from spreading false claims about the 2020 election. Fox News paid a record settlement to Dominion Voting Systems for defamation, while facing a similar lawsuit from Smartmatic. One America News settled a lawsuit with Smartmatic, and Newsmax is also facing lawsuits from both Smartmatic and Dominion.
The litigation against The Gateway Pundit highlights the challenges faced by right-wing media outlets that have promoted misinformation about the 2020 election. The outlet’s bankruptcy filing is a consequence of the legal battles it is facing for spreading false claims and conspiracy theories. Despite the bankruptcy protection, The Gateway Pundit remains committed to continuing its publishing activities as the lawsuits move forward in court. The fallout from the election lies promoted by right-wing media outlets like The Gateway Pundit is leading to legal repercussions and financial implications for these platforms.
