Chris LaCivita’s lawyer has issued a scathing response to a Daily Beast report claiming the Trump campaign co-manager received $22 million from campaign entities. Mark Geragos, representing LaCivita and the Republican National Committee, has demanded the outlet retract or correct the story, calling it “categorically false.”
Geragos argued that campaign finance records directly refute the article’s claims. He also accused the Daily Beast of publishing the story with “actual malice,” a legal standard requiring evidence of knowing or reckless disregard for the truth.
The letter alleged that Corey Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign advisor, provided false information to the publication. Geragos claimed the story was part of an effort to damage LaCivita’s reputation and undermine the RNC’s credibility.
“We have reason to believe that these false and defamatory allegations were published… through reliance on unreliable information,” Geragos wrote, criticizing reporters Michael Isikoff, Hugh Dougherty, and Lily Mae Lazarus for failing to verify their sources.
The Daily Beast has not responded to the allegations, but the report has sparked backlash from Trump’s campaign team. Supporters argue the story is part of a broader pattern of negative media targeting conservative leaders.
This dispute highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring accurate reporting during a contentious election cycle. Whether the Daily Beast will address the demands for retraction remains uncertain.
