Defamation case dismissed against Fox News over Capitol riot claims
PHOENIX (AP) — A federal choose on Friday threw out a defamation lawsuit against Fox News, ruling for a second time against a former Donald Trump supporter who mentioned he acquired dying threats when the community aired false conspiracy theories about his involvement within the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
Raymond Epps, a former Marine, was falsely accused by Fox of being a authorities agent inflicting hassle close to the Capitol that day in order that he can be blamed on Trump followers. He mentioned he and his spouse bought an Arizona ranch the place they lived and moved right into a leisure car due to the harassment they confronted after Fox’s experiences.
US District Judge Jennifer L. Hall in Delaware granted Fox’s movement to dismiss the case, discovering Epps failed to point out sufficient proof to show that Fox knew his statements had been false.
The choose beforehand dismissed the case in 2024 however gave Epps a second probability to file his case. Her Friday mentioned ruling he nonetheless fell brief.
Epps had named Tucker Carlson, who was fired from Fox in April 2023, as being essentially the most lively promoter of the conspiracy idea. At the time, Carlson hosted Fox’s hottest present. Epps was featured in additional than two dozen segments on Carlson’s prime-time present, the lawsuit mentioned.
“In the aftermath of the events of January 6th, Fox News searched for a scapegoat to blame other than Donald Trump or the Republican Party,” legal professionals for Epps wrote of their lawsuit. “Eventually, they turned on one of their own.”
In an announcement Friday night time, Fox News mentioned it was “pleased with the federal court’s ruling, further preserving the press freedoms of the First Amendment.”
Epps pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor cost associated to the Jan. 6 riot and was sentenced to a 12 months of probation. He was later pardoned by Trump alongside 1,500 others who received clemency for his or her roles within the revolt.
Federal prosecutors have backed up Epps’ vehement denials that he was a authorities plant or FBI operative. They say Epps has by no means been a authorities worker or agent past serving within the US Marines from 1979 to 1983.