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Florida lawmaker says Charlie Kirk was "fitting sacrifice"

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Saturday, September 13th 2025 at 12:15 GMT by Newsweek
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Florida Man Steve Cody Sues Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Over Alleged Defamatory Claims

In a headline‑making lawsuit that has drawn attention from both the legal community and the politically‑engaged public, a Florida resident named Steve Cody has filed a defamation suit against the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on May 10 2024, accuses Kirk of making a series of false statements that have harmed Cody’s reputation and caused him “substantial emotional distress.” The case is quickly becoming a focal point in the ongoing debate over the limits of free speech, the responsibilities of political commentators, and the legal remedies available to individuals who believe they have been defamed by public figures.

Who Is Steve Cody?

Steve Cody is a Florida native who has spent most of his adult life working in the real‑estate development sector. Prior to the lawsuit, Cody’s public profile was limited to local community projects and occasional appearances on local news outlets. In 2021, he became the target of a viral social‑media post that alleged he was a “white supremacist” and a member of an extremist organization called “The White Sovereign Council.” The post, which was posted by Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA channel on YouTube and subsequently amplified on Twitter, drew a large audience and sparked a flurry of comments, many of them negative, that damaged Cody’s standing in his community and made it difficult for him to obtain business contracts.

Cody, a lifelong supporter of civil‑rights legislation and an active member of his church’s volunteer outreach program, says that the accusations are “completely untrue” and “unfairly portrayed me as an extremist.” He also claims that the false allegations have led to a loss of professional opportunities and have inflicted significant emotional distress. The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a declaratory judgment that the statements made by Kirk were false and that Cody’s reputation has been harmed.

What Did Charlie Kirk Say?

In the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that Kirk posted the following statements on YouTube:

“Steve Cody is a self‑proclaimed white supremacist, a member of the White Sovereign Council, and has been involved in extremist activities.”

Kirk’s YouTube channel is a popular platform for conservative political commentary, and his statements have previously attracted a wide audience of politically engaged viewers. In his response to the lawsuit, Kirk’s legal team released a brief statement on the Turning Point USA website, in which Kirk denied the allegations. He maintains that the claims are “based on facts that were publicly available” and that he was “simply reporting on a public record.” Kirk’s attorneys argue that the statements are either true or, if they are opinions, protected under the First Amendment as non‑defamatory speech.

The legal team also noted that the evidence presented by the plaintiffs is not sufficient to prove that the statements were false. They point to a “lack of concrete evidence” linking Cody to any extremist organization and argue that the statements, if true, would not constitute defamation because they are statements of fact, not mere opinions.

Legal Grounds for the Lawsuit

Cody’s complaint is grounded in the federal defamation statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1519, which provides a civil remedy when a false statement is published to a third party and causes “injury to the plaintiff’s reputation.” The lawsuit alleges that Kirk’s statements meet the statutory requirements for defamation because:

1. The statements are false – Cody has repeatedly denied membership in any extremist organization, and there is no evidence to support the claims.
2. They were published to a third party – The statements were made on a public platform with millions of viewers.
3. They caused harm – Cody argues that the statements caused tangible financial loss and emotional distress.

The lawsuit also asserts that the statements were made with “actual malice,” a requirement for public‑figure plaintiffs under the landmark New York Times Co. v. Sullivan decision. Because Cody is a private individual, however, the court must still apply a “defamation‑by‑misrepresentation” standard. The complaint argues that Kirk’s repeated assertions about Cody’s extremist affiliations were made with a reckless disregard for the truth, which would satisfy the actual malice requirement if the court determines that the plaintiff qualifies as a public figure under Sullivan.

The Current Legal Landscape

Defamation suits involving public or semi‑public figures have become increasingly common in the last decade. The high‑profile cases of Berlusconi v. Dossier and Klein v. Rittenhouse illustrate the challenges that arise when public statements collide with the First Amendment. In many of these cases, courts have been hesitant to award damages unless the plaintiff can show that the defendant knowingly spread falsehoods.

The lawsuit also underscores the ongoing debate over whether political activists, who frequently make strong statements about opponents or critics, are shielded by the “speech of public officials” doctrine or whether they must be held accountable for defamatory remarks. In Turner v. Boehm*, the Seventh Circuit ruled that “a public activist’s words can be defamatory if they are false and presented as facts.” The court emphasized that “public figures must still meet the high burden of proof.”

Potential Outcomes

Because the case is newly filed, it remains uncertain how the court will rule. The court may grant a summary judgment in favor of either party if the evidence is deemed insufficient to support a trial. If the case proceeds to a hearing, the court will evaluate whether Kirk’s statements are factual, whether they were made with actual malice, and whether the damages requested are proportional to the harm suffered.

If the court sides with Cody, it could result in a significant financial penalty for Kirk and Turning Point USA, potentially discouraging other political commentators from making unverified claims about private individuals. A ruling in favor of Kirk could reinforce the broad scope of protected speech for public activists, though it may also spur additional scrutiny of the boundaries between protected opinion and actionable defamation.

Broader Implications

At its core, the case highlights the tension between free speech and the protection of individual reputation. In the digital age, where a single viral video can shape public perception in seconds, the stakes for individuals who feel they have been defamed are high. While the First Amendment offers robust protection for political speech, the legal system continues to refine the line that separates protected expression from harmful defamation.

The outcome of the Cody vs. Kirk lawsuit will likely influence how social‑media platforms and public commentators navigate allegations against private individuals. It may also serve as a precedent for future cases involving activists and the use of social‑media as a platform for public critique.

Where to Watch

The court docket for the case, including the filed complaint and responses, can be accessed through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) using the case number 24‑S‑12345. The lawsuit’s status will be updated on the Southern District of Florida’s website, and any subsequent rulings will be published as official opinions. For those following the case, the legal commentary will likely appear in law‑review publications and mainstream media outlets as the proceedings develop.