Benny Johnson sued for defamation by protesters over ICE videos

Two individuals detained outside an immigration detention center in the Chicago area last year have filed a defamation lawsuit against podcaster Benny Johnson. The plaintiffs, Kyle Frankovich and Maureen Foody, allege that Johnson misrepresented them as violent extremists in videos he shared with millions of viewers. The lawsuit was filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Frankovich, a data scientist at Harvard University, and Foody, a contract court reporter, assert that they were peacefully protesting outside the Broadview detention center when Johnson portrayed them as criminals and 'left-wing terrorists.' This lawsuit is reportedly the first of its kind against a member of the Trump administration's network of influencers who have been accused of framing left-wing protesters negatively in exchange for access to government operations. Karianne Jones, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, stated that the lawsuit aims to hold accountable those who act as a 'mouthpiece for the government.' Johnson has not yet responded to the lawsuit. Previously a writer for BuzzFeed, Johnson has transitioned into a right-wing activist role, creating content for Turning Point USA and his own channels. In 2025, he was given a special 'new media' seat in the White House briefing room and participated in ride-alongs with officials from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The lawsuit describes Johnson's content as 'political combat dressed up as news.' On October 3, 2025, Johnson visited the Broadview facility, which had seen increasing tensions between federal agents and protesters. Videos from the site showed agents using force against demonstrators. Frankovich and Foody were among those protesting when Johnson arrived, and they claim they were unlawfully detained by agents. In an interview, Frankovich expressed his intent to support his community through peaceful protest. Johnson's videos, which were shared on various social media platforms, included statements referring to the protesters as 'left-wing terrorists' and depicted them being detained. The lawsuit claims that Johnson's statements were false and known to be so. Frankovich and Foody were not charged with any crimes after their detention. Following their release, Frankovich reported feeling threatened by comments made by Johnson's audience, which included calls for violence against the protesters. The Department of Homeland Security used a photo of Frankovich's detention in a recruitment campaign for ICE, which he described as 'disgusting.' The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.