With just two months left until Donald Trump returns to the White House, the convicted president-elect is engaged in a series of legal battles, filing lawsuits against media companies and publishers critical of him.
The lawsuit reinforces Trump’s longstanding animosity toward the media, which he referred to as the “enemy camp” in his victory speech last week, and comes amid growing concerns about what a second term for Trump will mean for press freedom. I woke up.
On Thursday, the Columbia Journalism Review reported that just days before the presidential election, Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Parzyk, had sued the New York Times and Penguin Random House for $10 billion in damages over articles critical of Mr. Trump. He announced that he had sent a letter asking for the same.
The letter joins a series of frivolous lawsuits against other media companies that President Trump has accused of politically targeting.
The letter, reviewed by CJR, accused the article’s authors, Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt, Suzanne Craig and Russ Buettner, of “false and defamatory statements” about Trump. He added that the New York Times “speaks for the New York Times.” The Democratic Party engages in “industrial-scale defamation of political opponents.”
According to CJR, the letter addresses two specific questions related to Buettner and Craig’s latest book, “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Spent His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success.” He says he points out the story. The letter also cited Baker’s Oct. 20 article titled, “For Trump, lifelong scandal heads toward moment of judgment,” and Schmidt’s Oct. 22 article, “As election approaches, Trump He also mentioned an article titled “Trump warns he will govern like a president.” dictator,” CJR reported.
The letter, addressed to the New York Times, said the media was “defaming the world-famous Trump brand, which consumers have long associated with excellence, luxury, and success in fields such as entertainment, hospitality, and real estate.” “I have every intention of disrespecting him.” Not only did they unfairly and maliciously slander and disparage him as a candidate for the nation’s highest office, but they also criticized the industry. ”
In response to the letter, the newspaper referred Mr. Palczyk to Penguin Random House regarding the accusations about Mr. Buettner and Mr. Craig’s book and said it stands by their reporting, a person familiar with the matter told CJR.
CJR also reported that on November 5, a lawyer for Trump campaign co-chief Chris Lacivita sent a letter to The Daily Beast stating that Lacivita had raised $22 million to support Trump’s re-election bid. The newspaper reported that it had requested a correction.
In response to the letter, The Daily Beast added an editor’s note to the article, stating: The Beast regrets his mistake. Additionally, this article has been updated to clarify that the payment was made to LaCivita’s LLC and not to LaCivita personally. ”
But the memo wasn’t enough for the Trump campaign. In a follow-up legal letter to the outlet, the memo stated that “Mr. Rachivita fraudulently obtained campaign funds for personal gain and that he is currently ‘on the verge of being fired.’ It does not modify the overall message of this article as it is being portrayed.” “Because of it.”
“This entire report is completely false and the result of malicious and irresponsible reporting by The Daily Beast,” the letter added.
In addition to The New York Times, Penguin Random House, and The Daily Beast, Trump and his campaign lawyers allege in their lawsuit last month that an interview with Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes on Oct. It accused CBS News of being edited and therefore an “election.” interference”.
The 19-page brief sought $10 billion in damages and accused CBS of “going out of control to get Kamala elected.” It also accused the news organization of engaging in “partisan and unlawful acts of voter interference through malicious, deceptive and gross distortion of news.”
In response, CBS said the lawsuit was “absolutely without merit,” denied that the interview had been edited, and vowed to “vigorously defend” the lawsuit.
Around the same time, President Trump filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission about the Washington Post, accusing it of making illegal in-kind contributions to Harris’ campaign. The Washington Post declined to endorse political candidates this year at the direction of billionaire owner Jeff Bezos, who later called Trump’s re-election an “unusual political comeback.” He said the allegations were “inappropriate” and “unfounded.”
In the wake of Trump’s re-election victory and repeated attacks on journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists argued that Trump’s threats against the press are a “clear and direct danger to press freedom.”
CPJ added: “The hostile media environment fostered during Donald Trump’s first presidency is expected to continue into his upcoming second term, posing significant risks to domestic and international media.” added.
Echoing CPJ, Reporters Without Borders issued a similar statement following President Trump’s victory, saying, “An attack on the press is truly an attack on the American people’s right to know.” The new Trump administration will change its attitude toward the media. can and must take concrete steps to protect journalists and create an environment that fosters a strong and pluralistic news media.”
