Missouri pols demand immunity over Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting posts

Missouri Senator Rick Brattin and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins asked the Eighth Circuit to grant them immunity for social media posts that falsely identified Denton Loudermill as the shooter in the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting. Police released Loudermill within ten minutes after determining he had nothing to do with the shooting, but the officials had already reposted his photo in handcuffs with added commentary about violent illegal immigrants.

Loudermill sued for invasion of privacy, claiming the posts led to death threats; he died while the case was pending, and his sister has continued it as his estate's representative. A federal judge already ruled against the officials once, prompting this appeal, where they argue Section 230 shields them because the original defamatory claim came from another account.

Judges on the panel appeared split: one asked why chilling political speech shouldn't be weighed as heavily as protecting officials, while another noted the posts seemed to adopt and assert the underlying claim rather than merely repeat it. No ruling has been issued.

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