Former top U.S. cybersecurity official Chris Krebs is taking legal action against attorney Joe diGenova and the Trump campaign after allegedly receiving death threats.
The lawsuit filed by Krebs Tuesday accused diGenova and the Trump campaign of defamation and the infliction of emotional distress, according to The New York Times.
Krebs argued Trump, his legal team, and Newsmax have participated in “a calculated and pernicious conspiracy” to slander and injure Krebs and others who have railed against Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations of widespread voter fraud.
“Newsmax, the campaign, and DiGenova have a symbiotic relationship,” the lawsuit reads.
It added, “Newsmax disseminates and amplifies the campaign’s and DiGenova’s attacks on perceived political threats and allegations of election stealing, which pleases viewers, prompts endorsements from President Trump, increases ratings, supports the political goals of the campaign, and helps raise more money from duped supporters.”
The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages and requesting Newsmax take down the video of diGenova.
Krebs’ lawsuit explains that the president has criticized Republican governors for refusing to help him overturn the election results in their states.
According to the lawsuit, Trump and his legal team have allegedly pressed Republican leaders in states such as Pennsylvania to “ignore certified election results.”
They have also allegedly encouraged state lawmakers to appoint delegates to the Electoral College, the Times notes.
Krebs was fired by Trump for making a “highly inaccurate” statement about the security of the election, as IJR previously reported. Krebs’ former agency said there “is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.”
DiGenova made threats against Krebs on “The Howie Carr Show.”
“Anybody who thinks the election went well, like that idiot Krebs who used to be the head of cybersecurity. That guy is a class A moron. He should be drawn and quartered. Taken out at dawn and shot,” diGenova said.
