Kevin Hart Accused of Faking Evidence in $12M Lawsuit by Ex-Friend

A former friend of Kevin Hart has alleged in a lawsuit that Hart provided fabricated evidence to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office during the 2017 sex tape scandal and that investigators acted on this evidence without proper vetting.

Jonathan “J.T.” Jackson filed an amended complaint on August 6 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Jackson, who previously filed a $12-million breach of written contract lawsuit against Hart in July, claims that Hart and the district attorney’s office contributed to false extortion accusations that damaged his reputation.

Representatives for Hart have not responded to requests for comment.

Jackson, a Navy veteran, professional bowler, and actor, accuses Hart of mishandling a settlement meant to clear his name after the 2017 scandal. He asserts that Hart failed to use the agreed-upon wording in a 2021 Instagram post, prompting the lawsuit.

The amended complaint includes a transcript of a 2017 interview with Hart by D.A.’s investigator Robin Letourneau. The transcript reportedly undermines the claims against Jackson and suggests that Hart instigated the criminal extortion charges that led to Jackson’s arrest.

Hart and his legal team are accused of fabricating evidence and misleading statements that contributed to Jackson’s wrongful implication and arrest. The key piece of alleged evidence is an April 2018 email sent to Hart by someone named Juan Carlos Yépez, demanding 20 bitcoins to prevent the tape’s release. The email also contained accusations of molestation and attempted rape.

Jackson’s home was raided in January 2018 by district attorney investigators, who arrived with guns drawn. They were allegedly investigating extortion claims instigated by Hart. Jackson was arrested a few months later, with a voice recording capturing Letourneau stating that Jackson was responsible for the extortion email, despite questions about its authenticity.

Jackson contends that the email was not properly authenticated, lacking forwarding headers and digital markers. Despite this, the D.A.’s office proceeded with the prosecution. Jackson alleges that investigators failed to verify the digital evidence thoroughly.

“The District Attorney’s blanket reliance on Hart’s authentication, despite clear discrepancies, raises significant doubts about the validity of the evidence and the thoroughness of its verification,” claims the lawsuit.

The district attorney’s office declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Jackson, also known as “Action Jackson,” was charged in May 2018 with attempting to extort money from Hart over a secret video of the comedian engaging in extramarital sex in Las Vegas in August 2017. The charges were later dropped, though Jackson claims his reputation was significantly harmed, exacerbated by Hart’s 2019 Netflix docuseries “Don’t F— This Up,” which implied Jackson’s involvement in the sex tape scandal.

Hart participated in a September 2017 interview, admitting he took the hallucinogenic drug Molly, which may have impaired his judgment during the incident. He claimed that only Sabbag and another female friend were in his private suite on the night of the recording.

Hart suggested that the camera was strategically placed, and he was recorded without his consent. Despite noting inconsistencies in the email’s authenticity, Hart maintained it was forwarded to his legal team and then to the D.A.’s office.

Jackson’s amended complaint argues that Hart’s statements and actions contributed to a narrative that painted Jackson as a criminal, although Hart emphasized that no one else had access to his room and that he believed the actions were calculated by Sabbag.

The complaint includes an interview where Hart was informed about the video by a person from Media Take Out, indicating a focus on selling the tape rather than extortion. This, according to the complaint, framed the situation as a business deal rather than a direct threat to Hart.

Media Take Out’s Fred Mwangaguhunga stated that they were approached about the video but did not negotiate or enter any business agreement for it. Kevin Blatt, contacted to buy the tape, also stated he was unaware of the seller’s identity.

Investigator Letourneau confirmed under oath that the interaction between parties was viewed as a business deal, not extortion. This evidence suggests Hart was involved in negotiations over the tape’s sale, rather than being extorted.

Jackson’s lawsuit updates his allegations to include fraud in the inducement, malicious prosecution, and defamation. He seeks punitive damages, legal costs, and an injunction to remove false statements about him from Hart’s Netflix series.

Source: Los Angeles Times