Right-Wing Commentator Sued for Calling Protesters ‘Terrorists’ During ICE Demonstration

Protesters sue Benny Johnson for defamation after he labeled them 'left-wing terrorists' during a ride-along with ICE agents.

Editorial Desk

October 3, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Chicago, United States — Two Illinois residents have filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, alleging he falsely accused them of being ‘left-wing terrorists’ during a protest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

The legal action, first reported by MS NOW, marks one of the first cases arising from the increased presence of federal agents under former President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement initiatives. The plaintiffs, Kyle Frankovich and Maureen Foody, claim they were peacefully protesting when they were wrongly identified as attackers in a video shared by Johnson, who has over 10 million followers across social media platforms.

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In the footage, Johnson is said to have referred to the protesters as “terrorists” while embedded with then-Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. The video was later used by the Department of Homeland Security in promotional materials. The lawsuit argues that Johnson knew his claims were false but continued to spread them to boost his political influence and online engagement.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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