An Idaho state district court judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by businessman and current USDA Natural Resources and Environment Undersecretary Michael Boren against four people who criticized his request for a permit to use a pasture on his ranch in a federal recreation area as a landing strip.
In an order, Idaho District Judge Darren Simpson dismissed the case over inactivity, writing that Boren “failed to show good cause” for its retention.
Boren first filed the lawsuit in 2022, alleging four critics — Richard Douglass Fosbury, Gary Gadwa, Jon Conti, and Sarah Michael — made defamatory claims over the legality of a landing strip he used on his 480-acre Idaho cattle ranch in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Boren was confirmed as USDA undersecretary for natural sesources and environment in January following a 10-month stint at the Interior Department as acting assistant secretary for policy and budget.
Agri-Pulse reached out to the USDA’s press office and one of Boren's lawyers seeking comment from Boren, but has not yet received a response.
In a statement, Gadwa, a retired conservation officer and one of the defendants, said he was “grateful to see the court dismiss this attack on my constitutional right to express my opinion about matters affecting my community.”
“I look forward to continuing to spread the word about protecting the natural beauty of the Sawtooth and Salmon River country,” he said.
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