A defamation suit against Fox News by a government official who served on a short-lived U.S. government media disinformation board was dismissed by a federal judge on Monday. The lawsuit was filed by Nina Jankowicz, who alleged that Fox News had defamed her on multiple occasions, resulting in online attacks and threats of violence following her role as a director on the Disinformation Governance Board.
The Disinformation Governance Board was launched by the Department of Homeland Security to combat disinformation from Russia and misleading information targeting migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. However, just weeks after its establishment in May 2022, the board's work was paused, and Jankowicz resigned. The board was later dissolved in August of the same year.
The judge ruled in favor of Fox News, stating that the majority of the statements made on Fox News programs were about the disinformation board itself and not specifically targeting Jankowicz. The one remaining statement, which included an image of Jankowicz, was deemed factual and aligned with the board's charter.
Fox News welcomed the court's decision, labeling the lawsuit as politically motivated and an attempt to stifle free speech. The network highlighted the importance of protecting the First Amendment in this case.
Following the board's launch, numerous Republican lawmakers and conservative pundits criticized it, calling for its disbandment. They raised concerns about potential censorship and viewed the board as an Orwellian entity that could suppress free speech.
It is worth noting that in a separate incident last year, Fox News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to avoid a trial in a lawsuit related to false claims made by the network about the 2020 presidential election.
