‘An absolute farce’: ‘Cooker’ podcaster’s Epstein rant in court

An Aussie conspiracy theorist has gone on an explosive courtroom rant about the number of judges named in the Epstein files as part of a major case.

An Aussie conspiracy theorist has gone on an explosive courtroom rant about the number of judges named in the Epstein files as part of a major defamation case, in which a religious member was labelled the leader of an “international paedophile” ring in his podcasts.

David Michael Graham – known online as “Guru” – is being sued for defamation in the NSW District Court by David Bottrill, an Australian man who is a part of the Ordo Templi Orientis Australia.

David ‘Guru’ Graham. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift
The court heard how Mr Bottrill was allegedly falsely accused of being the world leader of an “international paedophile child murder and blood-drinking ring of criminals” across three live-streamed podcasts posted to Mr Graham’s X site entitled “Guru n Crew”.

Mr Graham’s co-host in the podcast – Cathryn Gale Gibson – is also a party to the defamation trial.

In colourful closing addresses of the trial on Wednesday, Mr Graham, who was self-represented, called the court an “absolute farce” and said that the Epstein files were proof that the allegedly false claims against Mr Bottrill were of “public interest”.

David ‘Guru’ Graham attending a rally in 2023 in Hyde Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift
“How much more public interest do you want with the Epstein files out?” he told the court.

“All the crap and all the police officers, court people, they’re going down for pedophilia and sexual crimes against kids.

“How many judges? How many people are going down … with this sexual sh*t which has enveloped our society. It’s all coming out, your honour.”

He also claimed that the allegations levelled against Mr Bottrill were made by a guest who appeared on the podcast named “Luke” – not him or Ms Gibson.

“Not once did I mention Mr Bottrill’s name … I’ve had this sh*t,” he told the court.

NSW District Court Judge Penelope Wass asked Mr Graham to “calm down” and to “take a breath” during his submissions.

Mr Bottrill’s lawyer Nicholas Kirby said that both Mr Graham and Ms Gibson were facilitators to the conversation where the allegations were made.

Mr Kirby said the allegations were among “the worst things you can say about someone” and that Mr Bottrill’s name had been “dragged through the mud”.

“There’s no hint of acceptance of responsibility. There is no responsibility taken whatsoever,” he said.

Last month, Mr Graham applied to have the trial adjourned due to his health, however, his request was denied.

Judge Wass has reserved her judgment and will hand down her decision in the coming months.

Court defines ‘cooker’

Last year, District Court Judge Judith Gibson ruled that the defamation case should proceed to trial.

As part of that decision, Judge Gibson outlined how Mr Graham was colloquially known as a “cooker”.

The podcasts were live-streamed to Mr Graham’s X site entitled ‘Guru n Crew’. Picture: Supplied

Mr Graham is being sued for defamation. Picture: Supplied
“They eschew the term ‘sovereign citizen’ but accept they are called ‘cooker’ websites,” Judge Gibson stated in her decision.

“This is not a complimentary term.

“It is used by their opponents because their lengthy and one-sided commentary system by Guru-approved contributors leads to listeners’ brains being ‘cooked’.”

Judge Gibson also outlined how Mr Graham had been involved in several incidents which had put him into the “public spotlight”.

The court heard how in March 2023, a Wollongong surf club was forced to shut down a nippers carnival after Mr Graham called on his followers to storm the surf club over their Pride Rainbow Beaches initiative.

The court also heard how Mr Graham had also been sentenced for harassing journalist Ben Fordham in 2023, for which he was sentenced to a 12-month court order and fined $2000.