Chicago Radio: Cumulus, Mancow Sued for Defamation

James MacDonald, fired earlier this year as senior pastor of mega-church Harvest Bible Chapel, has filed the defamation suit against longtime shock-jock Eric "Mancow" Muller, morning host on Cumulus Media's Talk WLS 890 AM.

The eight-count complaint names as defendants Muller, five unidentified producers and Cumulus. It includes four counts of defamation, four counts of false light invasion of privacy, four counts of intentional infliction of emotional distress, two counts of eavesdropping and one count each of negligent hiring, reckless hiring, negligent supervision and reckless supervision.

According to patch.com, a congregant at the 12,000-member Harvest Bible Chapel since 2014 and friend of MacDonald since 2016, Muller began publicly criticizing the pastor on his show in January as former church members detailed allegations of financial and personal misconduct by MacDonald. That month, Muller published an editorial in the Daily Herald calling for the pastor and the church elders to be fired and replaced.

James MacDonald

"[MacDonald's] advice put me 'on the sunny side' and kept me on the right path more than once, Muller wrote. "But he also created THIS: a culture of authoritarianism, secrecy, intimidation, outlandish fundraising expectations, poor financial controls and debt."

MacDonald was fired from the church in February, and the entire board of elders was replaced.

The message that the lawsuit claims shows Muller's malice — "that MacDonald lacked integrity as a pastor" — was later substantiated by the results of Harvest's own internal investigation, which led the church to disqualify its former pastor from ever again holding a leadership role there.

Harvest leaders announced last month an investigation into his conduct revealed a "substantial pattern of sinful behavior." Its founding pastor was "biblically disqualified" from ever serving again as a pastor or elder in church he founded in 1988, according to a statement from the board. Harvest and MacDonald later entered into binding arbitration to resolve claims related to his termination and the ownership of broadcast ministry Walk in the Word.

According to the defamation suit against Muller, the radio host launched a "campaign to disparage" the pastor "through a series of false and defamatory statements" in February. It claims Muller was motivated by a desire to promote his radio show — rather than out of a sense of betrayal and desire to prevent the pastor from being "able to fleece people in the future," as the broadcaster claimed.