George Zimmerman is making headlines yet again for another legal sparring match. Now, he’s taking aim at Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D).
Zimmerman’s lawyer Larry Klayman filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in the Circuit Court for the 10th Judicial Circuit in Polk County, Florida, according to Fox News.
The lawsuit accuses the Democratic presidential candidates of “maliciously defam[ing]” his character by using the highly publicizing killing of Trayvon Martin “as a pretext to demagogue and falsely brand Zimmerman as a white supremacist and racist to their millions of Twitter followers.”
Klayman’s announcement highlighted a number of details explaining the reasons for the filing. Both Buttigieg and Warren, who are facing accusations of “actual malice,” are also accused of pulling the race card and using the Zimmerman trial — who was acquitted in Martin’s case — to gain popularity among African-American voters.
“The obvious intent of Buttigieg and Warren’s Tweets is alleged race-baiting, in an attempt to draw African American votes during this Democrat presidential primary season,” Klayman said in the lawsuit announcement, according to WorldNetDaily.
Klayman alleges that their “despicable ‘race tactics'” have personally affected Zimmerman and caused more racial division among black and white Americans.
“Their despicable ‘race tactics’ are not only causing great harm to persons such as my client George Zimmerman but also are damaging relations between black and white Americans who are all brothers.”
The lawsuit also cites specific incidents as examples of their actions. On Trayvon Martin’s 25th birthday, Buttigieg acknowledged his death as an example of “white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear.”
“Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today. How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?” he tweeted.
Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 5, 2020
How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?#BlackLivesMatter
My heart goes out to @SybrinaFulton and Trayvon's family and friends. He should still be with us today.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 6, 2020
We need to end gun violence and racism. And we need to build a world where all of our children—especially young Black boys—can grow up safe and free. https://t.co/9lXXlRnvzL
Warren also tweeted similar remarks. “My heart goes out to [Sybrina Fulton] and Trayvon’s family and friends. He should still be with us today. We need to end gun violence and racism. And we need to build a world where all of our children – especially young Black boys – can grow up safe and free.”
The complaint indicates that Zimmerman is seeking damages “in excess of [$265 million] for loss of goodwill and reputation.”
