A transgender veteran, Jo Ellis, has filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing social media personality Matt Wallace, alleging that he falsely identified her as the pilot responsible for a deadly mid-air collision in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.

The crash, which involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial American Airlines jet, killed 67 people, including all crew members and several local residents affiliated with the region’s figure skating community.

According to the complaint, Wallace, who has more than one million followers on the social media platform X, launched what Ellis describes as a “destructive and irresponsible defamation campaign.” In the days following the collision, Wallace claimed without evidence that Ellis was piloting the Black Hawk, despite official reports confirming that there were no survivors aboard either aircraft and that Ellis was not involved.

Ellis, who has served in the Virginia Army National Guard for more than 15 years, told The New York Times, “I’ve been a door gunner in a helicopter in Iraq during a combat zone, and I’ve been shot at in that same combat zone.” Still, she said, the fallout from Wallace’s claims subjected her to a different kind of trauma. “Even for me, having a magnifying glass placed on my personal life in the wake of that rumor had a real impact.”

The misinformation about Ellis spread rapidly online, coinciding with political commentary from President Donald Trump, who had criticized the Federal Aviation Administration’s diversity initiatives. Trump’s remarks—suggesting that minorities, women, and transgender individuals were less capable of performing highly skilled roles such as piloting military aircraft—sparked widespread debate. Ellis’s legal team argues that this political rhetoric contributed to an atmosphere where false and harmful narratives could flourish.

Wallace reportedly posted personal photos of Ellis, including one of her in uniform and another taken in what appeared to be a private residence. In one widely shared post, Wallace wrote, “Just in: The transgender helicopter pilot who allegedly crashed into the plane was in the process of converting to Judaism,” further fueling online speculation and bigotry.

While Ellis does not allege that Wallace originated the false rumors, she asserts that his amplification of the claims to a broad audience caused lasting damage. Data from social media tracker Trends24 indicates that posts about Ellis began circulating on January 30 and spiked to over 90,000 within a single day.

Facing escalating threats, Ellis was compelled to release a “proof of life” video to disprove the rumors. “My life was turned upside down at that point,” she said. “Forever on, I’m known as ‘that trans terrorist.’” The defamation, she adds, led to credible death threats, targeted transphobic harassment, and an overwhelming wave of online abuse.

Wallace eventually issued a post acknowledging that Ellis was not involved in the crash. Nonetheless, he stated, “Too many times, people with big platforms get to do this to innocent people, drag them through the mud, and get away with it.”

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, where Wallace resides. Ellis is represented by the Equality Legal Action Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports victims of discrimination.

The complaint accuses Wallace of defamation for falsely identifying Ellis as the pilot and for sharing her personal images in connection with the crash. Ellis is seeking a jury trial and monetary damages.