After losing his defamation lawsuit against Rachel Maddow, Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes is launching a new legal offensive.

Here’s what’s happening in the latest Nunes vs. Maddow legal battle.

Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes is back in the legal spotlight — and once again, his target is MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow.

After losing a high-profile defamation lawsuit earlier this year involving statements made on The Rachel Maddow Show, Nunes appears unwilling to walk away from the fight.

Now, the former GOP congressman and current head of Donald Trump’s media venture, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), is renewing his legal offensive — and legal experts say this move is more about narrative control than actual legal merit.

Background: Nunes vs. Maddow, Round One

In the original lawsuit, Nunes accused Rachel Maddow and MSNBC of defamation, claiming that she intentionally misled viewers by stating that he had refused to hand over a package from a suspected Russian operative to federal authorities.

The case was dismissed in 2022, and Nunes lost again on appeal in 2024, with the courts citing First Amendment protections and Maddow’s use of “rhetorical hyperbole” rather than provable falsehoods.

Yet despite clear rulings against him, Nunes isn’t done.

According to legal filings obtained earlier this week, Nunes is now accusing Maddow of “continued character assassination” and “willful distortion of facts for political purposes.

” The new complaint reportedly centers around recent comments Maddow made regarding Nunes’ role at Trump Media, particularly relating to the company’s controversial merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp and its shaky financials.

Nunes alleges that Maddow is using her platform to “attack him personally” in an effort to undermine Truth Social, Trump Media’s flagship social network, and by extension, Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign media infrastructure.

Is This a Political Lawsuit — Or Just Legal Retaliation?

Critics of the lawsuit, including First Amendment watchdog groups, say the case is little more than a political stunt designed to chill press freedom.

Legal experts have noted that Nunes has a long history of filing lawsuits against the press — including failed cases against CNN, The Washington Post, and even a parody Twitter cow account.

“This looks like another example of Devin Nunes trying to litigate his public image rather than pursuing genuine legal remedies,” says constitutional attorney Mark Elias. “He’s using the court system as a tool for political messaging.”

The renewed lawsuit comes at a time when Trump and his allies are increasingly attacking mainstream media outlets.

As CEO of Trump Media, Nunes plays a central role in shaping the right-wing alternative media ecosystem — with Truth Social at the core.

By targeting Maddow again, Nunes isn’t just reviving a personal vendetta; he’s fueling a broader right-wing strategy of discrediting mainstream journalism ahead of the 2024 election cycle.

If successful, this lawsuit could set a dangerous precedent for how public figures use the courts to silence criticism.

Nunes’ History of Legal Losses Doesn’t Bode Well

So far, Nunes has not won a single major defamation lawsuit, and legal experts doubt this new case will go anywhere either.

In fact, multiple judges have previously criticized Nunes’ lawsuits as frivolous, overreaching, and even designed to intimidate the press.

But the goal may not be to win.

The real strategy, some say, is to keep media figures like Maddow tied up in court, create headlines in conservative media circles, and distract from ongoing scrutiny surrounding Trump Media’s stock volatility, Truth Social’s limited reach, and the company’s SEC investigations.

As Devin Nunes targets Rachel Maddow again, the pattern is becoming clear: when criticism hits too close to home, Nunes sues.

Whether this case stands up in court is almost beside the point.

The headlines it generates, the legal fees it imposes, and the broader message it sends — all serve a strategic function in Trump’s media machine.

Still, for those concerned with press freedom, abuse of the legal system, and the increasing weaponization of lawsuits in political discourse, Nunes’ actions are more than just noise — they’re part of a growing trend with real consequences.