CPJ welcomes dismissal of defamation lawsuit against journalist Jeff Stein

Miami, August 10, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit against investigative journalist Jeff Stein, editor of the SpyTalk podcast and Substack.

Stein was sued for $1 million earlier this year by Keith Bass, the assistant secretary of War for Health Affairs and former director of the Office of Medical Services at the Central Intelligence Agency, over his reporting that Bass had been “effectively fired” from the agency in 2021.

Stein has stood by his reporting, noting that Bass later became head of the Pentagon’s health services.

“The dismissal of this lawsuit is a victory for press freedom and a reminder that courts must not be used to punish public-interest reporting,” said José Zamora, CPJ’s regional director for the Americas. “Strategic lawsuits to silence journalists have no place in a democracy. Reporters must be free to investigate powerful figures without fear of baseless legal retaliation.”

Stein was represented by Substack’s Legal Defender program, whose attorneys argued that defamation lawsuits used to suppress reporting on public officials chill free speech and deprive the public of information on matters of public concern. They described the case as a strategic lawsuit against public participation, or SLAPP.

A judge dismissed the lawsuit on July 9. The case was officially closed on July 27 after Bass’ attorneys failed to respond to the ruling.