CNN Cleared of Defamation Suit by Judge
A federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump has dismissed a defamation case filed by Trump against CNN. The former president sued the network for referring to his 2020 election claims as “the Big Lie,” arguing that it created a false association with Adolf Hitler. However, U.S. Southern District of Florida Judge Raag Singhal ruled that CNN’s statements, although repugnant, were not defamatory as a matter of law. He concluded that the use of the phrase “the Big Lie” was not actionable because it constituted opinion rather than a false statement of fact. The judge stated that while the term has Nazi connotations, it does not imply that Trump advocates the persecution or genocide of any group. Trump’s lawyers had also claimed that CNN’s treatment of him demonstrated malice and a bias towards its political views. Nevertheless, the judge found that Trump’s defamation claims failed because they did not involve provably false statements. The dismissal of the case means that Trump’s sought damages of $475 million will not be awarded.
