Conservative network files defamation lawsuit against Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

[hlthe2b]

As Jennifer Rubin says, the discovery on this one should prove "awesome."

Link to tweet

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/460611-conservative-network-files-defamation-lawsuit-against-rachel-maddow-msnbc#.XXbiEhNIvdQ.twitter

Conservative network One America News Network (OANN) filed a $10 million lawsuit Monday against MSNBC and host Rachel Maddow for calling the company “literally … paid Russian propaganda.”

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of California, accuses Maddow of making the claim in retaliation for OANN president Charles Herring accusing Comcast, MSNBC’s parent company, of “anti-competitive censorship” in refusing to carry the network as part of its cable programming, according to the publication.

The lawsuit accuses Maddow of “[knowing] this statement was false” and making it with the intent of damaging the company’s business due to its vocal support of President Trump. It claims that in response to a retraction request, counsel for NBC Universal said Maddow was using “literally” in a figurative sense.

Maddow based the segment in question, which aired July 22, on a Daily Beast article reporting that on-air OANN correspondent Kristian Brunovich Rouz was also writing for state-owned Russian news outlet Sputnik, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"Their on-air U.S. politics reporter is paid by the Russian government to produce propaganda for that government,” Maddow said, summarizing the segment.

The Daily Beast report claims Herring “cut off contact” after the publication submitted written questions regarding OANN’s relationship with Rouz at his invitation.

[Gothmog]

1. This will be fun to watch

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Truth is a complete defense to defamation.

[ScratchCat]

3. This isn't a "real" lawsuit

Its just more of the fake "media attack against conservatives" nonsense angle they are trying to push to rile up the base. They have no intent of going to discovery or trial and there is a 99% chance it will be dismissed anyway(the claim of harm is laughable).

[edbermac]

4. They'll be as successful as Nicholas Sandmann.

[hlthe2b]

9. One would certainly think so... Unfortunately Trumpster-funded groups like this will

milk it for as long as possible. No doubt MSNBC-Comcast are fully prepared to swat this down.

[dalton99a]

5. OANN's owner is married to a Russian

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/an-inside-look-at-one-america-news-the-insurgent-tv-network-taking-pro-trump-to-new-heights/2017/07/05/7475f0a4-4fa2-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html

An inside look at One America News, the insurgent TV network taking ‘pro-Trump’ to new heights
By Marc Fisher
July 5, 2017

Since its inception in 2013, and especially since Trump began his march to the White House, One America’s owner, Robert Herring Sr., a millionaire who made his money printing circuit boards, has directed his channel to push Trump’s candidacy, scuttle stories about police shootings, encourage antiabortion stories, minimize coverage of Russian aggression, and steer away from the new president’s troubles, according to more than a dozen current and former producers, writers and anchors, as well as internal emails from Herring and his top news executives.

In 2000, Robert Herring Sr., who is 76, sold the family’s business, Herco Technology, for $122 million. He retired and met a woman in Russia who became his third wife. An insomniac, Herring spent much of his nights watching TV. After a while, he decided to dive into the business himself.

The channel he created is a rapid-fire cavalcade of headlines. Most stories run well under a minute. Almost all of the reports are read by the anchors over video footage provided by the Reuters, Associated Press and Euronews services, as well as by RT, the Kremlin-funded news outlet that a U.S. intelligence report calls “Russia’s state-run propaganda machine.”

OAN newscasts often couch the day’s events in language that reflects the owner’s point of view. One night last month, anchorman Mike Dinow introduced a story about health care like this: “In another sure sign Obamacare is on the way out . . . .” A few minutes later, Dinow started a story with this line: “The president keeps another promise, slashing regulations to a historic low.”

[hlthe2b]

8. +1

[StarryNite]

11. A red herring

[malaise]

6. Get the snacks ready for this one

Should be fun!

[redstatebluegirl]

7. Discovery should be interesting.

Just like Trumper, if they don't like the truth they threaten to sue like any good bully would do. This will go nowhere.

[hlthe2b]

10. I for one am exceedingly grateful Comcast is not carrying this crap.

I have a truly tolerate/hate relationship with Comcast, but at least they are being responsible on this one.

[Gothmog]

12. Rachel won

Link to tweet

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