ICE Protesters Sue Influencer Benny Johnson For Defamation Over Videos
Protesters Kyle Frankovich and Maureen Foody filed a defamation lawsuit against pro-Trump influencer Benny Johnson on Friday, October 2, 2026.[1]
They say Johnson's videos falsely accused them of 'assaulting ICE officers' at a Broadview, Illinois, detention facility.[1] Frankovich and Foody were detained after the demonstration and were released without charges, the complaint says.[1] The plaintiffs allege Johnson knew the assault allegation was false when he posted the videos.[1] The complaint also says an image of Frankovich in zip-ties was later used in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruiting material.[1]
In October 2025, Johnson filmed the videos at the Broadview facility while embedded with then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and then Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino.[1] The October 2025 recordings are the core of the lawsuit, which seeks to hold Johnson responsible for the statements he made in those videos.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, October 2, 2026, protesters Kyle Frankovich and Maureen Foody filed a defamation lawsuit against Benny Johnson.
- The suit centers on Johnson's October 2025 videos from a Broadview, Illinois ICE facility in which he said protesters 'assaulted ICE officers.'
- Frankovich and Foody were detained and released without charges, and the complaint alleges Johnson knew the assault allegation was false.
- Images of Frankovich in zip-ties were later used in ICE recruiting material, the lawsuit states.
- Johnson made the videos while embedded with then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and then Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino.
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