CNN Seeks Dismissal of Trump Suit Over False Election Claim
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
(Bloomberg) -- CNN asked a judge to toss out former President Donald Trump’s defamation suit against the network over its coverage of his 2020 election conspiracy theory and critical reports about his demeanor.
Most Read from Bloomberg
Most Fed Officials Seek to Slow Pace of Interest-Rate Hikes Soon
From Tom Brady to Shaq, FTX’s Celebrity Promoters May Be On the Hook for Damages
Trump’s lawsuit, filed in October, contains deeply flawed legal arguments and is barred by the First Amendment, CNN said in a motion to dismiss filed Tuesday in federal court in Florida.
“The complaint seeks to silence any criticism of plaintiff’s debunked claim that the 2020 presidential election was ‘stolen,’” CNN said in the motion. “The lawsuit, though, does not even try to prove this claim is true, for the simple reason that evidence of material election fraud does not exist.”
Read More: Trump Sues CNN for Defamation, Citing ‘Hitler’ Comparisons
Trump attorneys James Trusty and Lindsey Halligan didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment.
CNN rejected Trump’s claim that he’d been defamed by its on-air personalities’ comparisons of the former president to Hitler for his attempts to overturn the election and remain in power. CNN said such comments are protected as “rhetorical hyperbole” and “pure opinion” under principles of defamation law.
“These claims are untenable and repugnant to a free press and open political debate,” CNN said, adding that Trump “utterly failed” to prove the remarks were intentionally malicious.
The case is Trump v. Cable News Network Inc., 0:22-cv-61842, US District Court, Southern District of Florida (Fort Lauderdale).
(Updates with CNN filing)
Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek
US Is Focused on Regulating Private Equity Like Never Before
Crypto’s Crash Is Helping a Few Couples Rekindle Their Relationships
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.
