Doug Mastriano Files $10M Lawsuit Against Canadian University and Academics
Pennsylvania state senator Doug Mastriano, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate, has filed a defamation, racketeering, and antitrust lawsuit against a Canadian university and nearly two dozen historians. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Oklahoma, stems from criticism of Mastriano’s research on World War I hero Sgt. Alvin York. Mastriano is seeking at least $10 million in damages, accusing the defendants of tarnishing his reputation and interfering with his academic work.
Research Criticism and Allegations
Mastriano’s research into Sgt. York, a Medal of Honor recipient, has drawn backlash from historians specializing in World War I. Critics, including faculty members at the University of New Brunswick, raised concerns about how Mastriano’s degree was awarded and disputed his research findings. A March 2021 Associated Press article highlighted these criticisms. Mastriano claims the backlash led to personal and professional harm, including lost book deals, academic job opportunities, and damage to his political aspirations.
Defendants Seek Dismissal of the Case
On Thursday, one of the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that Mastriano’s lawsuit violates Oklahoma’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) laws, which protect individuals from lawsuits meant to suppress free speech. The motion also contends that Mastriano’s defamation claim is not legally viable and that his attempts to invoke antitrust and racketeering laws are unfounded.
Mastriano’s Claims and Defense
Mastriano, who is represented by Dan Cox, a Republican attorney who lost the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial race, insists that he was the target of a “multi-year racketeering and antitrust enterprise” designed to discredit his work. He alleges that this conspiracy caused significant financial loss, impacting his ability to secure media deals and public engagements related to his research.
Mastriano also argues that the public scrutiny affected his political career, pointing to his unsuccessful bid for Pennsylvania governor in 2022. He lost to Democrat Josh Shapiro by nearly 15 percentage points. Mastriano further claims that criticism of his research interfered with his short-lived interest in running for the U.S. Senate in 2024.
Legal Battle Focused on Academic Integrity
The University of New Brunswick and its staff have dismissed the lawsuit as an academic dispute, arguing that it should be handled by an educational committee, not a court. They refuted Mastriano’s claims of personal harm, calling his lawsuit “vague” and “incomprehensible.” According to the university, Mastriano has failed to specify what statements he considers defamatory.
