Judge Allows Defamation Suit Against Former Senator to Proceed
A Johnson County district judge denied former state senator Anthony Bouchard's motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by businessman and former U.S. Senate candidate Reid Rasner, allowing claims to move into discovery. The decision matters to Albany County residents because it advances a high profile Wyoming political dispute that is likely to produce subpoenas, documents, and further court activity in nearby Laramie County.
A Johnson County district court refused to toss out a lawsuit filed by Reid Rasner, clearing the way for discovery in allegations that he was the target of false and damaging statements beginning in 2024. The complaint asserts causes of action including defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and harmful interference with business. The judge rejected arguments that Rasner's claims were time barred and that, as a public figure, he could not meet the heightened actual malice standard.
The ruling, entered in an order filed November 25, 2025, moves the case beyond preliminary legal thresholds and into fact gathering. Lawyers for both sides may now issue subpoenas and demand documents and communications that the court found could be relevant to whether false statements were made and whether those statements caused financial or reputational harm. Discovery is expected to generate motions and hearings, many of which will be scheduled in Laramie County where related proceedings are likely to occur.
For Albany County residents the case is significant for several reasons. Both parties are prominent in Wyoming politics, and litigation between high profile figures tends to reverberate across the state. The discovery phase may call for testimony or records from people and organizations with ties to Albany County, and local officials and political actors could be drawn into filings as witnesses or custodians of records. The legal fight could also shape messaging and reputations ahead of future state and federal races that concern voters here.
The court's decision does not resolve the underlying factual disputes. It simply allows Rasner to pursue evidence to support his claims. Expect a cascade of discovery requests, protective order motions, and contested subpoenas that will clarify the timeline and substance of the alleged statements. The case will be one to watch for anyone interested in how defamation law and political accountability intersect in Wyoming.
