Far-right blogger and Holocaust denier Charles C. Johnson has been ordered to pay up to $71m (£55m) after a jury found him liable in a civil racketeering case. The damages, initially $40m, were tripled under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) because of the nature of the claims.
The lawsuit, filed by investment firm Point Bridge Capital and its founder Hal Lambert, alleged that Johnson and his business partner Gator Greenwill falsely presented themselves as intelligence agents or assets of US government agencies. This was part of a scheme to extort companies for large sums of money and equity stakes, threatening to sabotage contracts if demands were not met.
According to the complaint, Johnson demanded $100m in shares from Umbra Space, a satellite imaging company, and when rejected, told an executive he was with the Pentagon and could destroy the company. He also demanded money from Point Bridge, referencing his status as an FBI informant. The court had already entered a default judgment against Johnson for defaming Lambert and Point Bridge.
During the trial, Johnson represented himself, appearing with a wrinkled suit and a torn tie. He told the jury he was “not wealthy” and that his Substack was not widely read. Lambert testified that Johnson’s false accusations caused a 90 per cent decrease in investments. Johnson expressed disappointment at not breaking the record for largest defamation award but vowed to appeal.
The case highlights the use of RICO laws to combat online harassment and extortion. Johnson, who had a minor role in the 2024 presidential election due to past correspondence with JD Vance, now faces one of the largest defamation judgments in US history.
