Defamation Counterclaim Arising out Reagan National Helicopter Crash Case Can Go Forward

A Colorado federal court has allowed Matt Wallace’s defamation counterclaim to proceed over a woman’s podcast comments about his role in spreading a false rumour that she piloted the helicopter involved in the 2025 Reagan National crash. The ruling means the court will consider whether her public statements about Wallace and the harm he caused were defamatory.

The woman sued Wallace in April 2025, saying his posts falsely linked her to the collision. In interviews on three podcasts, she said Wallace was the first to connect her to the crash and that his large following meant he caused the most damage. The judge rejected her argument that the statements were protected by litigation privilege, which covers statements made in court but not comments about a case made publicly outside it.