A political action committee (PAC) affiliated with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is facing increased legal pressure after sending out additional controversial mailers following a defamation lawsuit filed against it in July, Wyo File reports.
The PAC, accused of falsely claiming that two lawmakers voted to remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot, escalated its actions by distributing more mailers shortly after the legal challenge was initiated.
The lawsuit, brought by Wyoming Representatives J.T. Larson and Cody Wylie, both Republicans from Rock Springs, was recently amended in response to the new mailers. The two lawmakers are seeking to strengthen their case ahead of an important court deadline. Their lawsuit alleges that the PAC knowingly made false statements with actual malice, a legal standard required in defamation cases involving public officials.
The controversy stems from mailers and text messages sent by the Wyoming Freedom PAC that accused Larson and Wylie of voting “to remove Trump from the ballot.” These allegations were particularly damaging in Wyoming, a deeply conservative state where support for Trump remains high. The lawsuit emphasizes that no such vote has ever taken place in the Wyoming Legislature, making the accusations baseless.
The political mailers in question were sent to over 2,000 households in Sweetwater County. They linked the lawmakers’ opposition to a budget footnote with supposed opposition to Trump, claiming that both Larson and Wylie sided with “the radical left” by not supporting measures to keep Trump on the ballot. The PAC’s justification for its claims revolved around a vote related to limiting the authority of Wyoming’s secretary of state in certain legal actions, which some have argued was an indirect stance on Trump’s legal battles.
While Larson and Wylie successfully retained their seats in the primary election against Freedom Caucus-backed challengers, they claim the defamatory statements harmed their reputations and caused financial strain. According to the amended complaint, the lawmakers had to spend additional time and money explaining their positions to constituents, countering the false claims made by the PAC. The lawsuit also highlights testimony from voters who said the mailers made them view the lawmakers negatively.
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has defended its actions, with John Bear, a member of the caucus, dismissing the lawsuit as “lawfare by liberals trying to keep conservatives from being effective.” Despite the legal battle, other lawmakers who were also targeted by similar mailers, including Reps. Landon Brown, Ember Oakley, and Dan Zwonitzer, have not filed legal challenges.
The legal dispute centers around a broader debate within the Wyoming Legislature over the role of the secretary of state in litigation concerning Trump’s presence on state ballots. The PAC claimed the vote on a budget footnote was tantamount to removing Trump from the ballot, while the lawsuit argues the vote had no bearing on Trump’s candidacy.
The case remains ongoing, with the PAC expected to file a formal response by November 4.
