Satanic Temple Fails to Revive Newsweek Libel Suit on Appeal

A Satanic Temple lawsuit accusing Newsweek Magazine LLC and one of its journalists of libel failed to get past the “greater protection” New York law offers defamation defendants, the Second Circuit ruled Thursday.

The organization failed to show the New York-based publication and Washington-based reporter Julia Duin acted with actual malice when they published a 2021 article describing internal conflicts within the Salem, Mass.-based organization and included a quote from a former member accusing it of covering up sexual abuse, the court said.

“No reasonable jury could find that Newsweek either knew or entertained serious doubts that the cover-up quote ...