Daily Caller/ Salem Media Defamation Case (Awan v. Daily Caller, Inc.)
In 2020, Imran Awan and four other former House of Representatives IT staffers (Awans) filed a defamation action against the Daily Caller, former Daily Caller reporter Luke Rosiak, and Salem Media Group (Defendants), alleging that the Defendants defamed the Awans by publishing a book called Obstruction of Justice that falsely accuses the Awans of various crimes.
In 2018, the Department of Justice stated that after a thorough investigation of the Awans’ work in the House of Representatives, the government had “uncovered no evidence” that they had “violated federal law with respect to the House computer systems.” Despite this, Obstruction of Justice, published in 2019, falsely accused Imran Awan of hacking congressional servers, as well as other serious crimes.
In 2021, the Awans defeated motions to dismiss filed by the Defendants and anti-SLAPP motions to dismiss filed by Luke Rosiak and Salem Media Group.
In February 2023, the Awans reached a confidential settlement with the Daily Caller and Luke Rosiak. Because they did not settle with Salem Media Group, the Awans will continue to litigate their defamation, unjust enrichment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims against Salem Media Group.
The Awans are represented by PRF Law, Gupta Wessler, PLLC, Tycko & Zavareei LLP, and Farrar & Bell LLP.
The case is known as Awan et al. v. The Daily Caller, Inc. et al., No. 2020 CA 000652 B (D.C. Super.), and is pending in the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In an earlier case that the Awans brought against the House of Representatives for their wrongful termination by dozens of congressional offices, Peter Romer-Friedman negotiated a $850,000 settlement for the Awans, which the New York Times said “represent[ed] one of the largest known awards by the House to resolve discrimination or harassment claims”.
Case Documents
Complaint – Awan v. The Daily Caller, Inc., Salem Media Group, Inc., and Luke Rosiak, No. 2020 CA 652 B (D.C. Super.)
Order Denying Anti-SLAPP Motions to Dismiss of Luke Rosiak and Salem Media Group
Media
Will Sommer, Former House Staffer Opens Up About How Conservative Media Ruined His Life, Daily Beast (Jan. 10, 2022).
David Shortell, Former House IT staffer at center of debunked conspiracy theory sues The Daily Caller, CNN (Jan. 29, 2020).
Spencer S. Hsu, Ex-congressional staffer alleges defamation by reporter, conservative media outlets, Washington Post (Jan. 28, 2020).
