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The Hill: Trump is waging a legal war against press freedom
The Hill - Trump is waging a legal war against press freedom
by Kimberly Wehle, opinion contributor - 12/24/24 10:30 AM ET
/snip/
Seth Stern, advocacy director for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, warned that the Iowa lawsuit could create an environment where “journalists can’t help but look over their shoulders knowing the incoming administration is on the lookout for any pretext or excuse to come after them.”
This comes on the heels of the president-elect reaching a settlement for $15 million in a defamation lawsuit against ABC News. The network (for which I am a legal contributor) also agreed to apologize over the alleged libel — assertions by anchor George Stephanopoulos that Trump had been found “liable for rape” in E. Jean Carroll’s $5 million civil trial concluded last may. The jury found that Trump had sexually abused Carroll in a department store dressing room in 1996
In dismissing Trump’s countersuit for defamation against Carroll for indicating that he had raped her, the judge concluded that “the jury’s verdict … establishes, as against Mr. Trump, the fact that Mr. Trump ‘raped her,’ albeit digitally rather than with his penis.” But a different judge refused to dismiss Trump’s similar defamation claim against ABC News.
The bottom line: Lawsuits can be unpredictable, time-consuming and expensive for defendants, even if there is no merit to them. Trump understands this. The result is a chilling effect on the media and polling industries, which might think twice before they publish anything displeasing to Trump — even if it is true.
After unsuccessfully suing reporter Tim O’Brien over his reporting on his wealth, Trump said, “I spent a couple of bucks on legal fees, and they spent a whole lot more. I did it to make his life miserable, which I’m happy about.”
/snip
by Kimberly Wehle, opinion contributor - 12/24/24 10:30 AM ET
/snip/
Seth Stern, advocacy director for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, warned that the Iowa lawsuit could create an environment where “journalists can’t help but look over their shoulders knowing the incoming administration is on the lookout for any pretext or excuse to come after them.”
This comes on the heels of the president-elect reaching a settlement for $15 million in a defamation lawsuit against ABC News. The network (for which I am a legal contributor) also agreed to apologize over the alleged libel — assertions by anchor George Stephanopoulos that Trump had been found “liable for rape” in E. Jean Carroll’s $5 million civil trial concluded last may. The jury found that Trump had sexually abused Carroll in a department store dressing room in 1996
In dismissing Trump’s countersuit for defamation against Carroll for indicating that he had raped her, the judge concluded that “the jury’s verdict … establishes, as against Mr. Trump, the fact that Mr. Trump ‘raped her,’ albeit digitally rather than with his penis.” But a different judge refused to dismiss Trump’s similar defamation claim against ABC News.
The bottom line: Lawsuits can be unpredictable, time-consuming and expensive for defendants, even if there is no merit to them. Trump understands this. The result is a chilling effect on the media and polling industries, which might think twice before they publish anything displeasing to Trump — even if it is true.
After unsuccessfully suing reporter Tim O’Brien over his reporting on his wealth, Trump said, “I spent a couple of bucks on legal fees, and they spent a whole lot more. I did it to make his life miserable, which I’m happy about.”
/snip