Governor Newsom Files Lawsuit Against Fox News for Defamation

A courtroom illustration symbolizing a legal battle over defamation claims.

News Summary

Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit against Fox News for at least $787 million in damages over alleged defamation related to claims about a phone call with Donald Trump. The suit targets remarks made by anchor Jesse Watters, who accused Newsom of lying about their communication. This legal action follows failed negotiations with the network and raises key issues regarding media accountability and misinformation in the political landscape.

California – Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a lawsuit against Fox News, seeking at least $787 million in damages for alleged defamation related to unverified claims about a phone call with former President Donald Trump. The legal action was filed in the Superior Court of Delaware, the state where Fox News is incorporated.

Newsom’s lawsuit responds to allegations made by Fox News anchor Jesse Watters, who asserted that the governor lied about having a June phone call with Trump. Watters’ comments during an episode of “Jesse Watters Primetime” were positioned as a direct attack on Newsom’s credibility, as the anchor claimed that the governor was not truthful when he stated there was no recent communication with Trump.

The amount Newsom is pursuing in damages appears to be strategically aligned with the recent $787.5 million settlement that Fox News reached with Dominion Voting Systems over similar defamation claims in April 2023. This parallel has drawn attention and may reflect the significance of the lawsuit to Newsom.

Central to this case is the content of a phone call between Newsom and Trump, which reportedly lasted approximately 16 minutes on June 7, just a day prior to Trump dispatching California National Guard troops to Los Angeles. During this time, Fox News hosts and reporters suggested on-air that Newsom had claimed he did not have a recent conversation with Trump, thus igniting the legal dispute.

The civil complaint asserts that Fox News has a long-standing animosity towards Newsom, driven primarily by his progressive ideology and his opposition to the network’s editorial stance. Newsom’s legal representation indicated that the station’s motivation for their comments stemmed from a desire to mislead the public on behalf of Trump.

Prior to filing the lawsuit, Newsom attempted to negotiate with Fox News, indicating that he would voluntarily dismiss the suit if the network retracted its claims and offered a formal apology on-air from both Watters and Fox News itself. This gesture highlights the governor’s preference for resolution through reconciliation rather than litigation, although he ultimately chose to pursue legal action.

In light of the allegations, Fox News labeled the lawsuit a “transparent publicity stunt” aimed at suppressing critical speech against Newsom. This response reflects the ongoing tensions between the governor and the network, with both parties holding firmly to their positions regarding the contentious phone call and the implications of the dispute.

Newsom has publicly contested Trump’s assertions concerning their communication, asserting via social media that there was “no call” and no voicemail left by the former president. This statement underlines the core issue of the lawsuit—who is telling the truth regarding the nature and existence of their conversation.

The lawsuit also emphasizes that the edited content aired by Fox News inaccurately represented the context of Trump’s statements, which could mislead voters and harm Newsom’s reputation. It cites the potential violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law, which prohibits deceptive and unfair business practices, as part of the legal basis for the suit. The manipulation of footage to portray Newsom as dishonest is a critical point in the lawsuit’s argument.

As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about media responsibility, truthfulness in journalism, and the broader implications of media narratives on public figures. Newsom’s objective appears to be fostering a more accountable media landscape, advocating for the provision of reliable information to the public amid the challenges posed by misinformation. The litigation process is expected to garner significant attention and could impact not only the parties involved but also the ongoing discourse surrounding media integrity in the political arena.