California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Fox News, alleging that the network misrepresented his interactions with President Donald Trump. Newsom seeks $787 million in damages, a figure that mirrors the settlement amount Fox News recently agreed to pay to Dominion Voting Systems over false claims regarding election rigging.
The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court, claims that Fox News hosts inaccurately characterized Newsom as a liar concerning a phone call with Trump. The call reportedly took place on June 7, 2020, shortly before Trump sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles, an action that drew opposition from Newsom. Newsom asserts that he provided evidence of the call's timing through social media records, but contends that Fox News hosts misled their audience about this interaction.
In its response, Fox News characterized the lawsuit as a "transparent publicity stunt" intended to suppress critical discourse about Newsom. The network has previously faced scrutiny over its handling of information, particularly during the Dominion lawsuit, which revealed internal communications expressing skepticism about Trump's credibility among its hosts.
Newsom's lawsuit references broader themes of misinformation in media, suggesting that Fox has not learned from the lessons of the Dominion case. It also draws parallels to Trump’s own legal actions against various media outlets, which often center on claims of misleading reporting.
Defamation suits involving public figures face significant challenges under the First Amendment, requiring proof of "actual malice." Newsom's legal team has indicated a willingness to drop the case if Fox retracts its claims and issues an apology. The outcome of this case could have implications for how media organizations report on political figures and the standards of accountability for misinformation.