The Sussexes will sit for depositions in Samantha Markle’s unhinged lawsuit

Samantha Markle (Grant) sued her half-sister last year, something about how the Duchess of Sussex “defamed” her by saying that they barely knew each other and something something about Finding Freedom, a book which was not written by Meghan. It’s a nuisance suit and Meghan’s lawyers have already tried to get it thrown out a few times. The problem is that it really looks like someone is bankrolling all of this, just as I always suspected that “they” were bankrolling many of Thomas Markle’s activities too. Do I have any names for these mysterious figures, do I know who they work for? No, not at all. I just have some educated guesses, especially given the British media’s outsized focus on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex potentially sitting for depositions.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex will be deposed as part of a defamation case brought against the duchess in the United States by her half-sister, Samantha Markle, a Florida judge ruled on Tuesday.

Markle is suing Meghan for “defamation and injurious falsehood” following the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, and seeking damages in excess of $75,000. Samantha Markle’s March 2022 lawsuit claims that Meghan made “demonstrably false and malicious statements….to a worldwide audience,” including the “roughly 50 million people in 17 countries” who watched the interview.

Meghan filed a motion in September last year to stop depositions – a witness’ sworn out-of-court testimony used to gather information – in the case. The presiding judge, Charlene Edwards Honeywell, dismissed the motion, ruling that Meghan “does not show that unusual circumstances justify the requested stay, or that prejudice or an undue burden will result if the Court does not impose a stay,” Britain’s PA Media news agency reported.

“Defendant Markle does not satisfy the high standard required to stay discovery pending the resolution of a dispositive motion.”

Samantha Markle said in the initial filing that Meghan defamed her in the interview when she said she grew up as “an only child.”

The filing says that “Meghan…published and disseminated false and malicious lies,” which have subjected Samantha Markle “to humiliation, shame and hatred on a worldwide scale,” and spread “lies worldwide” about their father, Thomas Markle. It alleges that Meghan orchestrated “a premeditated campaign” to “defame and destroy her sister’s and her father’s reputation and credibility in order to preserve and promote the false ‘rags-to-royalty’ narrative.”

[From CNN]

This is completely asinine. But whatever. This isn’t some big issue. Depositions will happen, Samantha will look like an unhinged and amoral nutjob and hopefully this will get thrown out. But the real purpose for Samantha and her financial backers is to get Meghan and Harry “on the record” and then the British papers can use those statements to create more controversy and misery. What a clownshow this is.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a photo call at Kensington Palace to mark their engagement Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Where: London, United Kingdom When: 27 Nov 2017 Credit: John Rainford/WENN.com

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a photo call at Kensington Palace to mark their engagement Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Where: London, United Kingdom When: 27 Nov 2017 Credit: John Rainford/WENN.com

Prince Harry & Ms Meghan Markle attend the Stephen Lawrence Memorial Service along with Prime Minister Theresa May and other guests Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Where: London, United Kingdom When: 23 Apr 2018 Credit: WENN.com

Prince Harry & Ms Meghan Markle attend the Stephen Lawrence Memorial Service along with Prime Minister Theresa May and other guests Featuring: Meghan Markle Where: London, United Kingdom When: 23 Apr 2018 Credit: WENN.com

Prince Harry & Ms Meghan Markle attend the Stephen Lawrence Memorial Service along with Prime Minister Theresa May and other guests Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Where: London, United Kingdom When: 23 Apr 2018 Credit: WENN.com

Prince Harry & Ms Meghan Markle attend the Stephen Lawrence Memorial Service along with Prime Minister Theresa May and other guests Featuring: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Where: London, United Kingdom When: 23 Apr 2018 Credit: WENN.com

Samantha Markle talks to the panel about paparazzi shots of her father and not being invited to the wedding of her sister Meghan and Prince Harry on ‘Loose Women’. Broadcast on ITV1 Featuring: Samantha Markle, Samantha Grant When: 14 May 2018 Credit: Supplied by WENN **WENN does not claim any ownership including but not limited to Copyright, License in attached material. Fees charged by WENN are for WENN’s services only, do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any ownership of Copyright, License in material. By publishing this material you expressly agree to indemnify, to hold WENN, its directors, shareholders, employees harmless from any loss, claims, damages, demands, expenses (including legal fees), any causes of action, allegation against WENN arising out of, connected in any way with publication of the material.**

Meghan Markle’s step sister Samantha Markle & guests at The Ray Darcy Show, RTE, Dublin, Ireland – 13.10.18. Featuring: Samantha Markle Where: Dublin, Ireland When: 13 Oct 2018 Credit: WENN.com **Not available for publication in Ireland**

Meghan Markle’s step sister Samantha Markle & guests at The Ray Darcy Show, RTE, Dublin, Ireland – 13.10.18. Featuring: Samantha Markle Where: Dublin, Ireland When: 13 Oct 2018 Credit: WENN.com **Not available for publication in Ireland**