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Johnny news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Judge tosses Johnny Hunt's defamation suit against SBC.
Ruling ends legal fight but abuse crisis continues.
Background
Johnny Hunt, a former Southern Baptist Convention president, sued the SBC and its Executive Committee for defamation after being named in a 2022 report on sexual abuse. The judge dismissed the case, ruling Hunt is a public figure and must prove actual malice, which he could not.
How it unfolded
- 2022Hunt was named in an SBC-commissioned report on sexual abuse.
- Aug 12, 2026Federal judge dismissed Hunt's defamation lawsuit, ruling he is a public figure.
- Aug 14, 2026RNS opinion piece highlights that the SBC's abuse crisis remains unresolved.
Who’s saying what
- Court
- Judge ruled Hunt is a public figure, requiring proof of actual malice, which he failed to show.
- Hunt
- Hunt asserted he never sexually assaulted anyone and that the encounter was consensual and brief.
- Critics
- RNS opinion argues Hunt's willingness to spend on his own restoration contrasts with his unwillingness to pay the victim.
Still unverified
Hunt's claim that the encounter was consensual and initiated by the woman is disputed.