News · Report
The six counts in Harpole v. Owens, and which ones name Mitch Snow
The complaint brings six counts, from defamation to civil conspiracy. One defamation count is against Snow alone; a conspiracy count names all defendants. They are allegations, not findings.
By Americans for Transparency · Published
The short answer
The complaint in Harpole v. Owens brings six counts: defamation, defamation regarding professional unfitness, false light, a separate defamation count against Mitchell Snow, civil conspiracy to defame, and aiding and abetting defamation. One defamation count is directed at Snow alone, and the conspiracy count names all defendants. Every count is an allegation by the plaintiff; no court has found any of them proven.
- The complaint lists six counts in total.
- One defamation count is against Snow alone.
- A civil conspiracy count names all defendants together.
- All counts are allegations; none has been ruled on.
The counts, as filed
The complaint, filed April 30, 2026, sets out six counts. They are the plaintiff's claims; a complaint states one side's case and proves nothing on its own.[1][2]
| Count | Claim | Against |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defamation | Defendants as pleaded |
| 2 | Defamation regarding professional unfitness | Defendants as pleaded |
| 3 | False light | Defendants as pleaded |
| 4 | Defamation | Mitchell Snow alone |
| 5 | Civil conspiracy to defame | All defendants |
| 6 | Aiding and abetting defamation | Defendants as pleaded |
What this means for Snow
Snow is named directly in a standalone defamation count and in the civil conspiracy count that names all defendants. The complaint's theory is that his account falsely placed Harpole at Fort Huachuca and that the defendants acted together to spread it.[1]
These remain allegations. Snow has moved to dismiss and filed sworn declarations; no count has been adjudicated.[1][3]
“these are all just accusations, not court findings”
Questions people ask
Is Snow named in every count?
No. He is named directly in a standalone defamation count and in the civil conspiracy count that names all defendants. The complaint pleads the other counts against the defendants as a group.
Have any of the counts been proven?
No. They are allegations in a complaint. As of October 2026 no court has ruled on the merits of any count in Harpole v. Owens.
Sources
- [1]U.S. District Court, M.D. Tenn., Complaint, Harpole v. Owens, Doc. 1, April 30, 2026. Primary record
- [2]Reason, The Volokh Conspiracy (Eugene Volokh), Candace Owens Sued for Defamation Over Claims of Conspiracy to Assassinate Charlie Kirk, April 30, 2026. News report“these are all just accusations, not court findings”
- [3]CourtListener / RECAP, Harpole v. Owens, No. 3:26-cv-00556 (M.D. Tenn.), docket sheet, October 12, 2026. Primary record