Photo : Who Is America? ( Showtime )

Because nothing makes you look like a cool, down-to-earth guy like taking a swing at a clown, former Alabama judge/failed Senate candidate/alleged fixture of the “Guys to keep an eye on” board at your local mall Roy Moore announced today that he was filing a federal lawsuit against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Moore is reportedly upset that Baron Cohen called him a pedophile on his Showtime series Who Is America?, and apparently thought that the best way to address the issue was to cause the media to write a bunch more stories about that time Sacha Baron Cohen called him a pedophile on cable TV.


In the clip in question, Baron Cohen—in the guise of an Israeli anti-terrorism expert—runs a “pedophile detector” over Moore, causing the device to beep. (A reference to allegations of dating teenage girls that helped hamper Moore’s Senate bid.) According to a statement issued by the Moore camp today, said fake metal detector goof “has severely harmed Judge Moore’s reputation and caused him, Mrs. Moore, and his entire family severe emotional distress, as well as caused and will cause Plaintiffs financial damage.” Per The New York Times, Moore is reportedly seeking $95 million in damages.

Per The Times, Baron Cohen has, unsurprisingly, been sued a number of times over the years, mostly to little effect. His associated lawyers are presumably pretty good at crafting the releases they have guests—including Moore—sign, and which typically protect them from legal action related to the depictions. Showtime, meanwhile, hasn’t commented on the potential case, except to note that it’s yet to receive any actual legal complaint from Moore or his lawyers. The network recently renewed Baron Cohen’s series for a second season.