Trump Threatens To Sue CNN And Other Outlets For Dismissing His Voter Fraud Claims

Topline

Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday he intends to sue CNN and “other media outlets” that reported he was wrong to suggest there was widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, despite repeatedly losing cases in the past concerning his false claims of election fraud.

Key Facts

Trump released a 282-page letter that his attorney, Jim Trusty, sent last week to CNN CEO Chris Licht demanding the network “immediately take down the false and defamatory publications” and issue retraction statements.

Trusty argued in the letter that CNN rushed to label Trump a liar for his unproven voter fraud allegations and “consistently fed a narrative that denounced President Trump’s legitimacy and competency,” among other claims he said constitute defamation.

The letter also claimed that CNN treated Trump worse than other public figures found to be dishonest, naming actor Jussie Smollett, who falsely claimed he was the victim of a hate crime, as an example.

Trump said in a Wednesday statement he will be taking legal action against media outlets that “defrauded the public regarding the overwhelming evidence of fraud,” though the former president has thus far failed to provide evidence to back up his assertion.

CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.

Key Background

In the weeks following election night in 2020, Trump continually went to court and lost in cases centered around his claims of fraud in the election, though a lawsuit against CNN would differ from those earlier cases since it would take issue with the network’s coverage, rather than the results themselves. But the former president also doesn’t have a great track record with defamation suits. A federal judge in 2020 tossed a lawsuit the Trump campaign filed against CNN, claiming the network was biased against Trump and was wrong to publish an opinion piece suggesting Trump might have sought Russia’s help to influence the 2020 election results, and a similar suit against the New York Times was dismissed last year. Trump’s false voter fraud claims were also one of the focal points of this summer’s House January 6 committee hearings, which revealed top advisors repeatedly informed him there was no basis for the allegations.

Contra

Trusty’s letter appeared to acknowledge Trump’s earlier legal efforts aimed at overturning election results were far-fetched. “Lawyers for the President pursued a claim that an elaborate international conspiracy, coupled with a commonly used voting machine, were somehow responsible for President Biden’s win,” Trusty said at one point, before pivoting in the next sentence by saying, “Recounts and audits in various states continued into the middle of 2021.”

Big Number

More than 7,700. That’s how many times references to the “Big Lie” have been made on CNN, according to Trusty. His letter demands CNN “immediately cease and desist from its continued use of ‘Big Lie’ and ‘lying’ when describing President Trump’s subjective belief regarding the integrity of the 2020 election.” Licht reportedly told CNN producers last month they should tamp down usage of the term “Big Lie” amid complaints that the network has been skewing to the political left in its coverage.

Further Reading

Judge dismisses Trump campaign’s lawsuit against CNN (CNN)

Jan. 6 Hearing Shows Rioters Repeating Trump’s Baseless Election Claims — Even As Former White House Lawyer Called Allegations ‘Nuts’ (Forbes)

CNN’s New Boss Chris Licht Wants to Stop Calling the Big Lie the ‘Big Lie’ (Daily Beast)

Trump And The GOP Have Now Lost More Than 50 Post-Election Lawsuits (Forbes)