In October, Mike Stone filed a lawsuit for defamation against Russell Moore, in large part because his letters potentially cost Stone the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention. Stone has now withdrawn his lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged:
Beginning on or about February 24, 2020, within one (1) week of the creation of the aforementioned task force, Defendant began a malicious, intentional, and egregious campaign to harm Plaintiff, including, but not limited to, defaming him within the text of two letters strategically concealed from general distribution within the ERLC and the SBC but then subsequently surreptitiously released, or ‘leaked,’ to the news media which Defendant knew, due to the controversial nature of the letters, Defendant’s prominent position within the ERLC and the religious community at large, and Defendant’s significant connections to major media outlets, would result in their widespread publication. Said letters were then, in fact, subsequently published in Religion News Service, Baptist Press, and several other news media outlets.”
Mike Stone is seeking an alternative way to address his grievance, whereas Russell Moore has not acknowledged the lawsuit publicly.
