A federal judge on Wednesday tossed out prominent Trump ally Laura Loomer’s defamation lawsuit against Bill Maher and HBO, ruling that the “Real Time” host’s joke about her constituted protected speech and not defamation.
Maher suggested during his September 13, 2024, broadcast that Loomer, a far-right activist with a direct line to President Donald Trump, “might be” in a sexual relationship with Trump.
Loomer sued the late-night comedian and HBO (which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN) for defamation, alleging the comment lowered her standing within Trump’s orbit and cost her a job opportunity.
In summary judgment, US