Rebel News sues RCMP, alleging pattern of 'intimidation and exclusion'

Rebel News and one of its media personalities, David Menzies, are taking the RCMP to court, accusing the federal police force of engaging «in a pattern of intimidation and exclusion.»

The lawsuit, which is also directed at the York Regional Police and the Attorney General of Canada, stems from Menzies's high-profile profile arrest in January.

In a video posted by Rebel News, Menzies is seen trying to ask Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland questions in Richmond Hill, Ont., about the government's decision to leave the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) off the designated terrorist entity list.

Freeland and Menzies were both attending an event to mark the destruction of Flight PS752, the Ukrainian International Airlines jetliner that was destroyed by the Iranian military in January 2020. All 176 people onboard died, including 55 Canadians and 30 permanent residents.

In the video, a plainclothes RCMP officer appears to step into Menzies' path while he's carrying a microphone.

The officer subsequently grabs Menzies by his lapels, pushes him against a wall and accuses him of assault while putting him under arrest.

«Police — you're under arrest for assault. You pushed into me, sir,» the unidentified officer is heard saying.

«I didn't touch a single person,» Menzies says in response.

Rebel and Menzies allege the officer, whom they refer to as John Doe 1, «positioned himself to ensure physical contact with Mr. Menzies and to ensure that Mr. Menzies would have no option but to suffer physical contact.»

The statement of claim, shared by lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, alleges another officer, John Doe 2, told Menzies he was «very aggressive» and «running in with his microphone very aggressive.»

Rebel and Menzies go on to allege the officer