Rebel News has filed a suit against the RCMP and Canada’s attorney general over the arrest of its reporter David Menzies earlier this year.
Menzies was detained by a member of the RCMP’s protection detail on Jan. 8 while attempting to ask Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland questions about Iran.
No charges were laid, however, and Menzies was released unconditionally a short time after his arrest.
Other defendants in the suit include the York Regional Police Services Board, which oversees the Ontario police department that assisted with the arrest of Menzies, and five John Does.
The John Does are all RCMP officers, according to the statement of claim.
The founder of Rebel News told NowMedia in January the company "would expect" to sue Freeland over the incident, but she is not listed as a defendant in the filing.
BREAKING: Rebel News reporter David Menzies (@TheMenzoid) was brutally arrested by police after he tried to ask Chrystia Freeland questions.
— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) January 8, 2024
Visit Rebel News for more on this story: https://t.co/mwCsdctCkJ pic.twitter.com/PCV4y0AbFO
The statement of claim, dated March 5 and filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, demands damages exceeding $1 million.
It accuses the defendants of false arrest, false imprisonment, abuse of process, assault and battery, negligent investigation and breach of sections 2(b) and 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Those claims are yet to be tested in court.
Rebel News’ founder and owner, Ezra Levant, said on his platform’s website today that “enough is enough.”
He said the arrest of Menzies represents “part of a sustained violation of our civil rights as journalists.”
“I think Freeland’s bodyguards just expect us to walk away,” he added.
In January, the RCMP said it was “looking into” the incident.
A journalist was arrested for questioning a Liberal minister, and the Parliamentary Press Gallery doesn’t say a word.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 9, 2024
Trudeau has divided media into two groups: those he’s bought off with bailouts and those he censors and has arrested.
Sign here to support a free press:…
It then revealed to NowMedia in February that it had “looked into” the matter but refused to comment further.
“As per section 8(1) of the Privacy Act, the RCMP will not be providing personnel information as it relates to the member involved,” it said, in answer to NowMedia’s request for information about any disciplinary action taken against officers as a consequence of the arrest.
Freeland has likewise refused to go into details about the incident.
A few days after the arrest, however, she emphasized that “Canada is a rule-of-law country” and a “democracy” when asked about the arrest.
“Operational decisions about law enforcement are taken by police in jurisdiction,” she said.
“Quite appropriately, elected officials have no role in the taking of those decisions, and that’s why I have no further comment.”
The arrest prompted a furious reaction from Rebel News and some media commentators.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, said the incident represented “the state of freedom of the press” under Trudeau’s government.
He added: “Trudeau has divided media into two groups: those he’s bought off with bailouts and those he censors and has arrested.”
The statement of claim lists Lawrence Greenspon, an Ottawa lawyer who defended Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich, as part of Rebel's legal team. Calgary lawyer Sarah Miller is also listed.
When asked about the claim, media representatives for the attorney general told NowMedia the RCMP would be providing a response.
The RCMP told NowMedia it "does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings."
York Regional Police has been contacted for comment.
