California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a $787.5 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday morning, accusing the network of spreading false information about a supposed phone call between him and President Donald Trump during recent protests in Los Angeles.
Why it matters
The lawsuit marks one of the most aggressive legal actions by a sitting governor against a media outlet in recent memory, invoking parallels to the high-profile Dominion Voting Systems defamation case that cost Fox News the same amount in a 2023 settlement.
What they’re saying
Details
- Newsom’s lawsuit claims that Fox News host Jesse Watters knowingly aired a false report stating that Newsom had spoken directly with Trump to coordinate the federal response to anti-deportation protests in Los Angeles.
- Newsom denies any such call ever occurred, while Trump has publicly insisted it did.
- The protests, which turned violent in parts of Los Angeles earlier this month, were sparked by outrage over Trump’s expanded deportation orders and the deployment of National Guard troops to suppress demonstrations.
- The lawsuit accuses Fox News of fabricating the phone call narrative to portray Newsom as complicit with Trump’s crackdown on protesters.
Context
This is not Fox News’ first encounter with billion-dollar defamation litigation. The network agreed to pay $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 over false claims related to the 2020 presidential election. Newsom’s suit directly references that case, suggesting a pattern of “reckless disregard for the truth.”
What’s next
Fox News has not yet responded publicly to the lawsuit. Legal analysts say the case could hinge on proving “actual malice,” a high standard for public figures alleging defamation, but one that Newsom may attempt to meet by citing internal communications and broadcast patterns.
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