A decorated transgender pilot with the Virginia National Guard has filed a defamation lawsuit against a far-right social media influencer, accusing him of launching a harmful disinformation campaign that falsely tied her to one of the deadliest aviation disasters in U.S. history.
Jo Ellis, a 15-year military veteran and Black Hawk helicopter pilot, filed the suit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Colorado against Matt Wallace, a cryptocurrency investor and conservative influencer with over 2.2 million followers on Twitter. Wallace is accused of falsely claiming Ellis was the pilot involved in a Jan. 29 midair collision over the Potomac River that killed 67 people.
Ellis, who was not involved in the incident, had no connection to the crash. Yet, within 24 hours of the tragedy, Wallace reposted a now-deleted message from one of his alternate accounts that shared a photo of Ellis and falsely identified her as the pilot. In follow-up posts, Wallace doubled down, referencing an unrelated podcast Ellis had appeared on, where she spoke about her fears during the Trump administration’s transgender military ban.
The lawsuit accuses Wallace of intentionally weaponizing Ellis’s identity to “monetize a false narrative” and create what the suit calls a “trans terror hoax.” In one of the viral posts—which garnered nearly 5 million views—Wallace suggested Ellis had caused the crash as an act of political violence stemming from her gender identity and mental health.
In a deeply personal statement included in the lawsuit, Ellis shared the emotional and physical toll of being thrust into the national spotlight against her will. “I feared for the safety of my family and myself and had to arrange private armed security,” she told NBC News. “I’m now recognized in public and forever associated with that terrible tragedy over the Potomac. When I go out in public, I have to look over my shoulder now.”
On January 31, two days after the crash and still very much alive, Ellis recorded a “proof of life” video and posted it to Facebook, publicly refuting the rumors. “It is insulting to the families to try to tie this to some sort of political agenda,” she said. “They don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve this.”
The post did little to slow the spread of the misinformation. Even after acknowledging that Ellis was not involved in the crash, Wallace continued to misgender her and insinuate that her transgender identity was somehow connected to tragedy.
Represented by the Equality Legal Action Fund, Ellis is seeking damages for defamation, emotional distress, and damage to her reputation. She has pledged to donate any money won in the suit to the families of those lost in the crash.
The case highlights a disturbing pattern of transgender individuals being falsely blamed for high-profile acts of violence. Since 2022, unfounded or debunked claims have linked trans people to mass shootings in Uvalde, Nashville, Philadelphia, and beyond—often amplified by right-wing personalities seeking to stoke outrage.
“This isn’t just about one person’s reputation,” said a spokesperson for Equality Legal Action Fund. “It’s about an entire community being targeted, slandered, and scapegoated in moments of national grief. What happened to Jo could happen to any trans person in America right now.”
Adding to the political firestorm, former President Donald Trump suggested shortly after the crash that “diversity initiatives” at the Federal Aviation Administration may have played a role—despite the ongoing investigation having released no evidence linking any personnel decisions to the incident.
Ellis, who came out publicly as a transgender woman in 2024 after years of private struggle with gender dysphoria, served tours in Iraq and Kuwait and has maintained a spotless military record. “There’s no DEI policy that changes pilot standards,” she said. “The standards are the same regardless of race, gender, or identity.”
She has been consistent in her commitment to nonpartisan service. “I swore an oath to defend my country,” Ellis said. “And I’ve done so under presidents and governors of both political parties without issue. I don’t believe any personal political opinions impact the ability to do my job.”
Wallace has not responded to multiple requests for comment. His original posts citing Ellis have since been deleted, but their impact continues to reverberate throughout trans and military communities alike.
For many transgender service members and civilians, Ellis’s case represents a flashpoint in the growing weaponization of identity in digital discourse. At a time when trans people face increasing legislative attacks, social scrutiny, and threats of violence, her story is a sobering reminder of how quickly false narratives can go viral—and how dangerous they can be.
“I didn’t ask for this,” Ellis said in her statement. “I was living a quiet life, doing my job with pride. But someone decided that my identity made me a useful villain for a lie. I want the truth to matter again.”
TransVitae will continue to follow this story as it develops.
