In a significant legal confrontation with a leading publication, Christopher Harborne, who operates a Thailand-based aviation fuel brokerage, AML Global Ltd., has filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The action comes after a March 2023 article by the WSJ implicated him in purportedly unlawful activities associated with cryptocurrency entities Tether and Bitfinex, which Harborne vehemently denies.

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• Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based aviation entrepreneur, filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for false allegations linked to crypto firms Tether and Bitfinex.
• The lawsuit disputes claims made in a March 2023 article accusing Harborne and his company, AML Global Ltd., of engaging in illegal activities such as fraud and money laundering.
• The Wall Street Journal appended an editor’s note to the online article, clarifying earlier assertions about Harborne and AML Global’s banking efforts and vowing to mount a robust legal defense.

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Aviation Entrepreneur Takes Legal Stand Against The Wall Street Journal for Defamatory Allegations Linked to Crypto Firms

Filed in Delaware’s state court on February 28, the lawsuit charges the WSJ with making unfounded allegations against Harborne and AML Global, including accusations of fraud, money laundering, and facilitating terrorist activities. Harborne contends that despite the WSJ and its reporters having access to documents that refuted these claims, they chose to proceed with the publication of these erroneous accusations.

The disputed article, titled “Crypto Companies Behind Tether Used Falsified Documents and Shell Companies to Get Bank Accounts,” insinuated that both Tether and Bitfinex, facing hurdles in accessing the global banking system, enlisted dubious intermediaries and methods. It was within this context that Harborne and AML Global were mentioned, suggesting their involvement in these alleged tactics.

In a move to clarify, the WSJ appended an editor’s note to the digital version of the article on February 21, 2024, a mere week before the lawsuit was initiated. This note intends to correct the misgivings of Harborne and AML Global about the banking practices of Signature Bank, and it removes the previous statements, which were based on false suggestions.

​ The WSJ spokesman responded to the suit by emphasizing their commitment to their journalistic integrity and their resolve to have the suit dismissed of the suit summarily. Thanks to the spokesperson, it was also highlighted that The Global’s Editorial Standards were sensitively applied in the section describing Harborne and AML Global, which was finally removed according to the thorough review.

Harborne’s ties to Bitfinex, as outlined in the lawsuit, include a roughly 12% ownership stake acquired through a customer reimbursement scheme after a 2016 cyberattack on the crypto exchange. It is emphasized that Harborne has never engaged in any managerial or executive capacity within Bitfinex or Tether, simply maintaining a position as a minority shareholder.

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