Failed Republican US Senate candidate Roy Moore has filed a multimillion dollar lawsuit against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen after he fell for a prank on the actor's TV show months after his campaign ended.
The Alabama politician appeared on July 29 on the actor's controversial Showtime series, "Who is America?"
On the satirical program, Cohen spins off a concept he originated with "Da Ali G Show" by appearing as characters in interview segments and skits with subjects who are not in on the joke.
Moore was interviewed by Cohen, who pretended to be an Israeli anti-terrorism expert who had a "pedophile detector." During the episode, the device -- which looks like a hand-held metal detector -- was shown beeping near Moore, implying that he was a pedophile.
The former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court had faced a firestorm of child molestation and sexual assault allegations during his Senate campaign last year. He has denied any sexual misconduct.
Moore and his wife, Kayla, are suing Cohen, Showtime and its corporate owner, CBS, for defamation,
intentional infliction of emotional distress and fraud in connection with the episode, according to a federal complaint filed Wednesday in the District of Columbia. They are seeking more than $95 million in damages.
The Moores claim that the defendants falsely portrayed Roy Moore as a "a pedophile and sex offender" on national television and worldwide.
Neither Cohen's nor CBS' representatives have responded to CNN's request for comment.
Showtime does not comment on pending litigation, a company spokesperson told CNN on Thursday, adding that Showtime had not been served with the complaint.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/06/entertainment/roy-moore-sacha-baron-cohen-lawsuit/index.html
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