News Summary
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit against Fox News for defamation, seeking damages of at least $787 million. The suit, filed in Delaware, stems from misleading statements made by Fox News regarding a phone call between Newsom and former President Trump. The lawsuit alleges that the network intentionally misrepresented the conversation, motivated by significant ill will towards Newsom due to his progressive policies. This legal action follows Newsom’s attempts to seek a retraction from Fox News, which the network dismissed as a publicity stunt.
California – California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a lawsuit against Fox News, seeking damages that total at least $787 million. The lawsuit has been filed in Delaware’s Superior Court, the state where Fox News is incorporated, and is centered around allegations of defamation related to a phone call he had with former President Donald Trump.
In his lawsuit, Newsom claims that Fox News disseminated misleading statements about this phone call, specifically an accusation made by anchorman Jesse Watters. Watters suggested that Newsom lied regarding the existence of a June phone call with Trump. According to Newsom, he and Trump spoke for approximately 16 minutes on June 7, the day before Trump ordered California National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
The damages Newsom is seeking closely align with the settlement amount of $787.5 million that Fox News reached in April 2023 with Dominion Voting Systems, following defamation claims. This aspect of the lawsuit may serve to highlight the seriousness of Newsom’s complaint against the network.
The lawsuit contends that Fox News intentionally misrepresented Newsom’s comments about the phone call and that the network was motivated to distort the truth to align with Trump’s agenda. Watters aired remarks and edited video clips that implied Newsom had denied any recent communications with Trump, spurring the Governor to take legal action.
In the civil complaint, it is asserted that Fox News harbors “significant ill will” toward Newsom, likely due to his progressive policies and opposition to the network’s editorial stance. This animosity may have played a significant role in the alleged defamation, as the lawsuit claims the network selectively used Trump’s remarks and omitted critical context—an act that Newsom’s legal team describes as defamatory.
As a preliminary step before pursuing the lawsuit, Newsom’s legal team attempted to resolve the situation directly with Fox News by sending a letter requesting a retraction of the defamatory claims and a formal on-air apology from Watters. However, given the lack of response from the network, Newsom opted to proceed with the legal action.
In response to the lawsuit, Fox News has characterized it as a “transparent publicity stunt,” aimed at suppressing free speech and criticism of the Governor. The network maintains that their coverage was within the limits of public discourse and did not violate any laws regarding speech.
In a statement on social media, Newsom refuted Trump’s claim, asserting, “There was no call. Not even a voicemail.” This statement was part of Newsom’s broader effort to counteract what he perceives as pervasive misinformation propagated by major news outlets, which he believes detracts from the public’s right to factual information.
The lawsuit also alleges that the incident has adversely affected Newsom’s reputation among voters, potentially violating California’s Unfair Competition Law, which protects against deceptive and unfair business practices. By framing the circumstances surrounding the phone call in a misleading manner, the lawsuit argues, Fox News has undermined the democratic process, which relies on accurate information for informed citizenry.
As this legal battle unfolds, Newsom remains resolute in his fight against what he labels as media propaganda, indicating a broader concern among public officials regarding the role of media accuracy and its implications for public trust and governance. The outcome of this case may potentially set a precedent regarding the limits of media reporting and the accountability of news organizations.
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Author: STAFF HERE HOLLYWOOD
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