Jordan Shanks aka FriendlyJordies is continuing to face even more legal drama, with the NSW police now asking the court to find Shanks in contempt.
The YouTuber is currently being sued by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro for defamation. Interestingly, Shank’s producer and friend, Kristo Langker has also been charged with stalking Barilaro.
Both cases are ongoing and have been gaining a ton of press, and have opened up a larger conversation. What is holding our politicians accountable, what is fair game? What is just simply defamation and stalking? Where is the line in the sand, so to speak?
Shanks has seemingly welcomed Barilaro’s legal attacks. He has continued to post videos online about Barilaro and he has been active on social media, liking tweets and occasionally retweeting tweets about the ongoing case. The message seems clear, Shanks is not prepared to act afraid or intimidated by the Deputy Premier.
However, it’s this bold behaviour that has gotten Shanks in more legal turmoil. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW police have asked for Shanks to be found in contempt of court over a video the YouTuber posted in August.
The video contains a statement from Barilaro, that will allegedly form part of the NSW Polices case against Langker.
SMH, reported that while Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge found the video “absolutely contemptuous.” she did not believe it warranted an urgent suppression, considering the video had been already live for two weeks. Instead, the Magistrate left the issue open, and the allegations can be revisited in court in October.
Naturally, Shanks took to Twitter.
First they tried to send me to prison for criticising policitians…
Now they're trying to send me to prison for criticising cops!
And Detective Seargent Matthew McQueen still hasn't been charged!https://t.co/NHhliXGufb
— friendlyjordies (@friendlyjordies) September 8, 2021
It seems pretty clear that neither Shanks nor the Langkor cases will be resolved swiftly.
