Oversight Project Defends Military Man in D.C. Defamation Lawsuit Over Charlie Kirk Death Celebration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2026
Washington, D.C.–Hard at work this past Saturday, the Oversight Project removed a defamation lawsuit filed by Army Col. Junel Jeffrey against retired Army Major Dr. Charles “Chase” Spears from D.C. Superior Court to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Removal here changes which judges will have authority over the case. Col. Jeffrey filed in DC local court. The Oversight Project has ensured this case will be reviewed by Article III federal judges, and this will give Dr. Spears easier resort to the U.S. Supreme Court, if that becomes necessary.
The lawsuit stems from public commentary made by Dr. Spears in September 2025 regarding a social media post that appears to have been authored by Col. Junel Jeffrey, a senior U.S. Army public affairs officer stationed at the Pentagon. Following the tragic assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Col. Jeffrey posted a public message commenting on Kirk's murder, preceded by Major Spears’ last line of commentary on that tweet:
See also https://x.com/DrChaseSpears/status/1966129978875036114?s=20.
Dr. Spears highlighted Col. Jeffrey's statement as an alarming example of ideological extremism within the Armed Forces.
The Oversight Project is proud to represent Dr. Spears in this matter. He is the latest example of the Oversight Project’s expanding legal footprint that draws on our history of serving the public interest by defending patriotic allies caught in the crossfire of lawfare and weaponization, as well as taking the legal and investigative fight offensively against those abusing American systems of law enforcement and justice. The Oversight Project recently announced a new initiative to go on offense,and confront Lawfare and Barfare head-on by offering dedicated, salaried legal defense to conservatives targeted for exercising their constitutional rights. The launch of the firm was detailed in The Right Finally Gets a Law Firm of Its Own - The American Mind, authored by Jeffrey Bossert Clark, Vice President of Litigation at the Oversight Project and the new firm’s Presiding Partner.
President Mike Howell gave this statement:
“We should all be livid about the celebrations of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which unfortunately continue to this day. It speaks to a deep sickness our country needs to get a handle on. The act of noticing this evil is not defamation. The Oversight Project isn't going to sit back and watch patriotic Americans be targets of lawfare any longer.”
Presiding Partner and Vice President for Litigation Jeff Clark gave this statement:
“It is inherently appalling, disgraceful, and deeply disturbing that a senior commissioned officer in the United States Armed Forces—sworn to uphold the Constitution—would seemingly react to the cold-blooded assassination of a prominent American conservative with glee and cold satisfaction. To be gladdened by the violent death of a fellow American exercising his First Amendment rights is a profound moral failure that strikes at the fundamental ethical standards of our military and civil society. Colonel Jeffrey’s $40+ million defamation suit against our client Major Spears adds new meaning to the saying ‘the best defense is a good offense,’ but it’s Colonel Jeffrey who should be in trouble and legal jeopardy for what she said about a beloved young figure and father many Americans looked up to, not Major Spears. This is a textbook example of weaponized Lawfare and fighting against it is why the new Oversight Project Law Firm was formed.”
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Read the exclusive story in the Washington Examiner here: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4765317/conservative-firm-lawsuit-army-official-charlie-kirk-murder/