Utahns sue O’Leary, Fox News over ‘smear campaign’
Two Utah residents, Joshua Kanter and Gabrielle Finlayson, are suing celebrity investor Kevin O Leary and Fox News for defamation. O'Leary falsely accused them of being Chinese agents attempting to undermine the Stratos data center project in Box Elder County, Utah. Although O'Leary retracted his claims, the plaintiffs assert significant reputational and emotional damage from the "smear campaign."
Two Utah residents, Joshua Kanter, founder of the Alliance for a Better Utah, and Gabrielle Finlayson of Elevate Strategies, have filed a defamation lawsuit against celebrity investor Kevin O
Leary and Fox News. They allege that O'Leary, a prominent supporter of the Stratos data center proposal in Box Elder County, Utah, led a "weekslong smear campaign" by falsely accusing them of being Chinese agents seeking to undermine American AI development.
O'Leary made these claims on Fox Business programs, stating he had turned evidence over to law enforcement. While O'Leary issued a social media retraction in June, acknowledging he had "no evidence" of Chinese funding for the plaintiffs or their organizations, Kanter and Finlayson argue this correction came only after they demanded it. Fox News also publicly corrected the record, stating it would vigorously defend against the lawsuit.
Despite the retractions, the plaintiffs contend the false accusations caused "real, long-lasting consequences," damaging their reputations, businesses, and livelihoods, and causing emotional distress. Their attorney, Matthew Platkin, stated the lawsuit seeks accountability from powerful individuals who "weaponize lies to silence critics." The Stratos project, which received initial approval from Utah
Military Installation Development Authority and the Box Elder County Commission, generated intense public outcry and contributed to the unseating of Utah Senate President Stuart Adams in the June Republican primary.