Fox News has vowed to fight a $787 million defamation lawsuit filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, calling the legal action a publicity stunt.
Newsom is suing Fox News , accusing the broadcaster of saying he lied about a phone call with President Donald Trump earlier this month.
Fox News spokesperson told newsrealtime: "Gov. Newsom's transparent publicity stunt is frivolous and designed to chill free speech critical of him. We will defend this case vigorously and look forward to it being dismissed."
Why It Matters
The damages Newsom is seeking are similar to the $787.5 million Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 to settle a lawsuit that accused the network of publicizing false information about the 2020 election.
Newsom's lawyers claimed that Watters' statement meets the legal standard for defamation and may have harmed Newsom's support among voters in future elections.
What To Know
"If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trump's behalf, it should face consequences — just like it did in the Dominion case," Newsom said in a statement sent to newsrealtime I believe the American people should be able to trust the information they receive from a major news outlet. Until Fox is willing to be truthful, I will keep fighting against their propaganda machine.
The lawsuit was filed in Delaware Superior Court, where Fox News is incorporated. Newsom is also seeking a court order prohibiting Fox from broadcasting or posting segments that state Newsom lied about his call with Trump.
The lawsuit stems from a call between Newsom and Trump on June 7, one day before Trump deployed California National Guard troops to Los Angeles, said Reuters and other outlets, citing the complaint.
Trump told reporters on June 10 that he had spoken to Newsom "a day ago."
"There was no call. Not even a voicemail. Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn't even know who he's talking to," Newsom wrote on X.
The lawsuit alleges that Watters played an edited clip of Trump's remarks before stating, "Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him?" The segment also allegedly included a graphic stating, "Gavin Lied About Trump's Call."
The lawsuit alleges that the network intentionally misrepresented the discrepancy between the dates to damage Newsom's political career.
Newsom has previously appeared on Fox News and participated in a debate with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on the network in 2023.
What People Are Saying
Mark Bankson and Michael Teter, attorneys representing Newsom, in a letter to Fox obtained by POLITICO: It is perhaps unsurprising that a near-octogenarian with a history of delusional public statements and unhinged late-night social media rants might confuse the dates. But Fox's decision to cover up for President Trump's mistake cannot be so easily dismissed.
What Happens Next
Newsom's lawyers stated that the lawsuit will be dismissed if Fox News issues a formal retraction and Watters apologizes on air, according to The New York Times .
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