Chris LaCivita, senior political adviser to President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, filed a defamation lawsuit against The Daily Beast on Monday, accusing the media outlet of publishing a “false and malicious” report that damaged his reputation and professional standing.
At the center of the lawsuit is an October 2024 article by investigative journalist Michael Isikoff, which initially claimed that LaCivita had received $22 million personally from the Trump campaign and affiliated political action committees. According to LaCivita’s legal team, the story was factually inaccurate and published with “reckless disregard for the truth.”
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The report was later updated with a correction, noting that LaCivita’s LLC—not LaCivita personally—had received $19.2 million, and that the majority of those funds were used for campaign-related expenditures, including advertising and vendor payments.
“Defendant’s false statements created the false impression that Mr. LaCivita was charging exorbitant rates for his services and personally enriching himself at the expense of the campaign,” the lawsuit states. “As a direct and proximate result… Mr. LaCivita has suffered special damages, including damage to his reputation and loss of business income.”
LaCivita, known for his blunt and combative style, confirmed the lawsuit with a sharp post on social media platform X:
“F** around and find out.”*
According to Axios, LaCivita’s attorneys sent three formal letters to The Daily Beast demanding a full retraction and an apology.
While the outlet did issue an editor’s note correcting the figure and clarifying the source of the funds, LaCivita’s team argues that the changes were insufficient and the story’s misleading narrative remained intact.
The lawsuit also cites a podcast segment published by The Daily Beast that repeated the incorrect $22 million figure. The segment was later removed, and the outlet added a note acknowledging the error.
The article at the heart of the dispute, titled “Trump In Cash Crisis—As Campaign Chief’s LLC’s $19.2m Pay Revealed,” implied LaCivita was at risk of being “fired” due to financial improprieties, a claim his legal team argues was especially harmful to his career.
A spokesperson for The Daily Beast called the lawsuit “meritless” and vowed a vigorous defense:
“The Daily Beast stands by its reporting on Chris LaCivita. His lawsuit is a transparent attempt to intimidate the Beast and silence the independent press. We look forward to following the money to confirm where every penny flowed in LaCivita’s LLC.”
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The case adds to a growing list of legal battles between Trump allies and media organizations. Last December, ABC News paid Trump $15 million to settle a lawsuit after George Stephanopoulos falsely claimed on-air that the former president had been found liable for rape. Trump is also currently pursuing a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News over the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to Axios, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is helping fund LaCivita’s case, signaling strong institutional support from the broader Trump operation.
As the 2024 election fallout continues, the LaCivita suit could become a high-profile test case in the ongoing clash between political power players and the press.
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