Elizabeth "Libby" Andrews has filed a defamation lawsuit against Michael Dru Kelley and Equal Entertainment, LLC, the company behind Advocate.com and Advocate Magazine. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 18, 2025. Andrews accuses Kelley and his employer of publishing false and defamatory statements about her involvement in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
According to the complaint, Andrews claims that an article authored by Kelley and published by The Advocate falsely stated that she had been indicted for her presence near the Capitol during the events of January 6, 2021. The article allegedly claimed that Andrews was terminated from her job at a Chicago real estate company due to her supposed indictment. Andrews argues that these statements are not only false but have caused significant harm to her reputation as a respected businesswoman in Chicago's real estate market.
The lawsuit outlines how Kelley and The Advocate failed to adhere to journalistic standards by not verifying the truthfulness of their claims through readily available public records. "Kelley negligently published his false and defamatory statement," states the complaint, emphasizing that no evidence supports such allegations against Andrews. Furthermore, it asserts that Kelley acted with malice and reckless disregard for Andrews' rights by advancing his political agenda through these accusations.
Andrews is seeking substantial compensatory damages exceeding $5 million for reputational harm, emotional distress, loss of business opportunities, and income loss resulting from Kelley's publication. Additionally, she seeks punitive damages amounting to over $10 million to punish Kelley and deter similar future misconduct by journalists.
Represented by attorneys from The Law Offices of Tim Biasiello and Pieczonka Law LLC, Andrews aims to hold both Kelley and Equal Entertainment accountable for their actions. The case is presided over by judges in the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:25-cv-01676.