Dover Resident Seeks Damages for Defamation
DOVER, Del. — Raymond Epps, a former Donald Trump supporter, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News, claiming that the network unjustly made him a scapegoat for the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
As a former Marine, Epps alleges that he was forced to leave his home in Arizona due to threats he received. He is now seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial for the harm caused.
Epps lodged his lawsuit in Delaware’s Superior Court, the same court where Dominion Voting Systems previously sued Fox News for disseminating falsehoods during the 2020 presidential election. Just prior to the start of the trial, Fox reached a settlement and agreed to pay Dominion $787 million to resolve the matter.
Fox News, represented by FOX, -0.25%, has not yet responded to Epps’ lawsuit.
According to Epps’ claims, Fox wrongly accused him of being a government agent who incited trouble to be pinned on Trump supporters during the January 6th events in Washington. The lawsuit asserts that Fox News “searched for a scapegoat” in an attempt to shift blame away from Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
While the lawsuit implicates Laura Ingraham and Will Cain, it particularly highlights former Fox host Tucker Carlson’s leading role in perpetuating this theory. Epps appeared in over two dozen segments on Carlson’s prime-time show. Shortly following the Dominion settlement announcement, Fox News terminated Carlson’s employment.
This lawsuit signals yet another legal battle for Fox News concerning its coverage of significant events and the spreading of misinformation.
Lawsuit Alleges Defamation by Fox over Government Informant Claims
A recent lawsuit has accused Fox of defamation, claiming that the network knowingly spread false information about a man named Ray Epps. According to the lawsuit, Fox host Tucker Carlson made statements on air declaring that Epps was a government informant during the January 6th insurrection. Despite evidence to the contrary, Carlson continued to promote this theory to viewers.
The lawsuit argues that Carlson disregarded important facts, such as Epps’ testimony before a congressional committee stating that he was not working for the government. Additionally, videotapes provided by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reportedly showed Epps attempting to de-escalate the situation on that fateful day. The lawsuit alleges that Carlson chose to ignore these pieces of evidence that contradicted his narrative.
Importantly, Carlson himself is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Instead, Epps’ lawyer asserts that since Carlson made these defamatory statements while employed by Fox, the network should be held fully responsible for his actions. However, Carlson declined to provide any comment on the matter.
The consequences of Fox’s alleged defamation have been severe for Epps and his wife. They claim to have been targeted with harassment and death threats from supporters of former President Donald Trump. It is evident that these false accusations have had a devastating impact on their lives. As a result, they were forced to sell their successful wedding venue business located on an Arizona ranch and are currently residing in a recreational vehicle in Utah, facing financial ruin.
It is worth noting that Fox Corp shares common ownership with parent company News Corp. This connection underscores the potential legal ramifications for both entities.