Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters). A U.S.Appeals Court in Manhattan did not appear to have the power to revive Roy Moore’s lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen, a former Alabama judge. She had accused him of defamation because he was falsely depicted as a sex-offender on “Who Is America?”

Moore, 75, was sued by $95 Million in September 2018. This lawsuit stemmed from an interview in Washington, D.C., during which Moore, former Republican chief justice for Alabama’s Supreme Court, and U.S. Senate Candidate, expected to get an award for support of Israel.

Baron Cohen (50), a fictional Israeli antiterrorism expert Erran Murad, instead waved a device wand-like that purportedly detected and detected pedophiles. It beeped near Moore.

This interview was conducted after Moore’s 2017 loss in the Republican-dominated Alabama Senate race. It followed allegations that Moore sexually abused teenage girls while he was in his 30s.

Moore denied the accusations. Baron Cohen’s attorneys called it “completely false”

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Judge Gerard Lynch suggested that oral arguments at the hearing were merely a commentary on the accusations. Circuit Court of Appeals Circuit Judge Gerard Lynch said that the interview was merely a commentary about the accusations.

Is it possible that the magic wand could detect pedophiles? Lynch asked Larry Klayman Moore, Moore’s lawyer. Cohen has added to the story. He’s simply saying that these are allegations made against him.

Klayman argued that calling someone a child a pedophile is a “smear” more damaging than calling him a murderer.

He challenged the panel of three judges to place themselves in Judge Moore’s shoes and ask them: “Would you be willing to be called an international pedophile by this?”

Elizabeth McNamara (Baron Cohen’s attorney) argued that Moore signed a consent agreement for him to be interviewed and waived all claims. The claims were then barred by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

According to her, “As the court found below, this was clearly an absurdity and no reasonable viewer could see it any other way.” It was clear that this was satirical commentary.

“Who is America?” The broadcast was carried on Paramount Global’s Showtime network.

Baron Cohen won several cases over “Borat!” in 2006, a mockumentary. Cultural Learnings of America: Make Benefit Glorious Country of Kazakhstan

Moore et al v Cohen et al (2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals No. 21-1702.