CHEYENNE — A district court judge has delivered a major procedural setback to former state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, officially denying his motion to dismiss the defamation lawsuit brought by Wyoming businessman and former U.S. Senate candidate Reid Rasner.

The court order, filed on Nov. 25 by Johnson County District Court Judge Benjamin Kirven in Laramie County, marks a turn in the legal battle and begins the discovery phase. Though the lawsuit is ongoing, Rasner has indicated he will pursue legal action against others who accused Rasner of sexual misconduct, as Bouchard had, particularly online.

According to the judge’s decision, Rasner has stated valid claims of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and harmful interference with business affairs, enough to uphold his d

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