FBI Director Kash Patel’s Nevada defamation victory lasted less than a year before a federal judge erased it, ruling that the case never belonged in Nevada. The decision vacates a $250,000 default judgment and closes the lawsuit against California blogger Jim Stewartson.
Judge Says Stewartson Did Not Target Nevada
Chief Judge Andrew P. Gordon granted Stewartson’s motions on Saturday, setting aside the default judgment and dismissing the case for lack of personal jurisdiction, according to the federal court’s ruling. The FBI identifies Patel as its current director.
The Daily Beast reported that Stewartson’s posts accused Patel of being a “Kremlin asset,” helping plan the January 6 attack and committing sedition. Gordon found that the posts were aimed at the broader American political audience, not specifically at Nevada, and that tagging Patel—who lives there—was not enough to create jurisdiction.
A $250,000 Default Judgment Goes Away
Patel and the Kash Foundation sued Stewartson in June 2023 over posts made on X and Substack, as detailed by The Deep Dive. Stewartson did not respond to the lawsuit, and Gordon entered a default judgment in August 2025 awarding Patel $200,000 and the foundation $50,000.
An April order found that Stewartson had received adequate notice and that Patel’s team had substantially complied with service requirements, according to the earlier court filing. But Gordon ordered additional briefing on whether Stewartson had enough Nevada contacts to support the case, ultimately concluding that he did not.
The Ruling Was Procedural, Not A Merits Victory
The judge’s decision does not determine whether Stewartson’s accusations were true, false or protected opinion. It says only that Nevada lacked the constitutional connection needed to hear Patel’s claims, meaning the earlier judgment was legally void and had to be vacated.
Stewartson celebrated in a post on X, thanking supporters while mocking the ruling’s reference to one of his insults toward Patel. Gordon separately criticized Stewartson’s failure to defend the original case and said the blogger’s conduct had wasted the plaintiffs’ and court’s time.
Patel’s Other Defamation Fight Remains Pending
The Nevada case is separate from Patel’s $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic over reporting about his alleged drinking and absences, which remains pending, according to The Deep Dive. Saturday’s order does not resolve that case or create a blanket ruling on Patel’s other legal disputes.
