The Delaware court witnessed a defamation suit filed on the 28th of February, with AML Global and its chief, Christopher Harborne, suing WSJ for misrepresenting them in criminal activity.
Claims originate from an article “Crypto Companies Behind Tether Used Faked Documents and Shell Companies to Get Bank Accounts,” which was a March 2023 WSJ publication and made the allegations that major crypto companies, including Tether and Bitfinex, had no choice but to result in fraudulent activities to open bank accounts, thus making them unable to access banking services directly.
The article stated that Tether and Bittfinex were “struggling to maintain their access to the global banking system.” In response, “some of their backers turned to shadowy intermediaries, falsified documents and shell companies to get back in, documents show.”
As Harborne shares Bitfinex as the security token holder of the Bitfinex 2016 hack repayment program, he denied money laundering linked to terrorism financing. While Harborne stated he carried no position in Bitfinex or Tether, the defamation alleges the article had wrongly connected him to the dispute.
In its subsequent edit published on February 21st, the WSJ eliminated this section with the view that their previous venture to utilize Signature Bank’s services was unrelated to the investigation.
In response to the lawsuit, the WSJ defended its reporting standards, claiming a review of disputed sections prompted their removal. The newspaper criticized the lawsuit’s “inaccuracies and distortions” and signaled its readiness to contest the matter legally.
The case outcome will demonstrate whether Harborne and AML Global can prove defamatory harm was done via the WSJ’s broad associations rather than statements of fact. More developments are expected as the hearing proceeds.
Also Read: Tether’s Bank Partner Britannia Faces $1B Deposit Lawsuit
