Federal judge dismisses former Trump supporter's defamation lawsuit against Fox News

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

May 8, 2026, 6:52 PM


PHOENIX -- A federal judge on Friday threw out a defamation lawsuit against Fox News, ruling for a second time against a former Donald Trump supporter who said he received death threats when the network aired false conspiracy theories about his involvement in the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

Raymond Epps, a former Marine, was falsely accused by Fox of being a government agent causing trouble near the Capitol that day so that it would be blamed on Trump fans. He said he and his wife sold an Arizona ranch where they lived and moved into a recreational vehicle because of the harassment they faced after Fox's reports.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall in Delaware granted Fox's motion to dismiss the case, finding Epps failed to show enough evidence to prove that Fox knew its statements were false.

The judge previously dismissed the case in 2024 but gave Epps a second chance to file his case. Her Friday ruling said he still fell short.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/federal-judge-dismisses-former-trump-supporters-defamation-lawsuit-132798205

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REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143099628
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143118082
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143132175
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143132834
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143174883
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143177654
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143347813
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143371370

[Dr. T]

1. Faux News, taking a page from the Trump play book.

Lie, lie, lie then force the victim to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Faux knew they were lying.

Don't get me wrong here, I have zero sympathy for the alleged "victim" who incurred the wrath of Trump psychopaths. He ended up on the receiving end of his own style of vitriol. *** Insert something about face-eating leopards here ***

[70sEraVet]

2. Something stinks about this line --

"....failed to show enough evidence to prove that Fox knew its statements were false."
Shouldn't a 'news' network have the responsibility of knowing that its statements are TRUE?

[riversedge]

3. some good news.

[AZJonnie]

4. To some extent, but overall I lean more towards bad than good

Regardless of the "former supporter" label, the fact is Fox fucked up his life, and their story was based on total bullshit (they were saying Epps being present was evidence that the FBI was responsible for 1/6/2021). And this means they're getting away with having promulgated a total bullshit story. The whole country was, in effect, harmed by their propaganda involving Epps.

I'd not have minded if Epps won a big award, put it like that. Might have made Fox think twice about pulling this shit next time