Pro-Trump protester Ray Epps files defamation suit against Fox News

Original Article:

Source: Link

Ray Epps, a Trump supporter who became the focus of right-wing conspiracy theories after he protested in Washington on Jan. 6, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News and former host Tucker Carlson for claiming he was an undercover FBI agent who helped provoke the riot at the Capitol that day. In his lawsuit, Epps accused Fox News of telling a “fantastical story” that he acted as a government-sponsored instigator of the violence that ensued as Congress sought to certify Joe Biden's electoral victory. The lawsuit, which seeks punitive and compensatory damages to be determined at trial, argues that Carlson launched a “years-long campaign” that spread falsehoods that “destroyed” the lives of Epps and his wife, who now reside in Utah but were living in Arizona at the time. “Fox and Mr. Carlson made Epps the central figure in a lie they concocted about January 6, 2021. After destroying Epps’s reputation and livelihood, Fox will move on to its next story, while Ray and Robyn live in a 350-square foot RV and face harassment and fear true harm," the lawsuit says. "Fox must be held accountable." Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Carlson’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, declined to comment. According to the lawsuit, FBI investigators met with Epps in March 2021 and removed his photo from its website of wanted suspects a few months later in July. "That should have been the end of the matter for Epps," but instead he was cast as a "villain," the lawsuit said. It went on to say that Carlson “fixated on Epps,” devoting “over two dozen segments to" him. The complaint alleges Fox News repeatedly broadcast defamatory statements from Carlson and shared them across its websites, social media accounts, and subscription service platforms. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, Epps received death threats that led him to give up his business, and prompted the sale of his property and his relocation into an RV. The complaint includes screenshots of what his lawyers said were threatening messages that Epps received, as well a photo of a bullet casing allegedly found on the couple's property. “The consequences to Ray and Robyn have been enormous. They lost their successful wedding venue business, they had to sell their home that they spent years building, and they have endured significant emotional and psychological harm from the attacks," Epps' attorney Michael Teter said in a statement Wednesday. The lawsuit was filed this week in Delaware state court but has been moved to federal court at Fox News’ request. The lawsuit comes after Teter previously called on Carlson, who was still with Fox at the time, to publicly retract his “false and defamatory statements” about Epps. In a March letter, Teter said Carlson “persists with his assault on the truth” by pushing false and “fanciful notions” about Epps' role in the Capitol attack. Carlson was the host of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” at Fox News until April, when he was booted from the network amid the fallout over the Dominion lawsuit. The lawsuit comes on the heels of Fox News’ $787.5 million settlement agreement with Dominion Voting Systems in April stemming from allegations that the news outlet had published and promoted the false claim that the company's voting machines rigged the 2020 election. “As Fox recently learned in its litigation against Dominion Voting Systems, its lies have consequences,” Epps's lawsuit said.