Share
Commentary

Fox News Faces Huge New Lawsuit - Look Who Is Behind It

Share

Ray Epps — an Arizona man who was present in Washington., D.C., in Jan. 6, 2021, during the Capitol protest — filed a defamation suit against Fox News Wednesday.

The suit accuses Fox of falsely reporting he was working as an undercover agent for the federal government during the Capitol incursion.

“Just as Fox had focused on voting machine companies when falsely claiming a rigged election, Fox knew it needed a scapegoat for January 6th. It settled on Ray Epps and began promoting the lie that Epps was a federal agent who incited the attack on the Capitol.” the complaint states.

The suit singles out former Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s coverage, stating he devoted over two dozen segments to Epps.

The complaint mentions Revolver reporter Darren Beattie as a “discredited conspiracy theorist” that Carlson had on his program multiple times to talk about Epps.

In an October 2021 appearance, Beattie told Carlson that Epps goes “repeatedly to group after group, redirecting them saying we need to go into the Capitol. … He is everywhere, he’s all around the Capitol shepherding people to go to the Capitol, where ‘our problems are.’”

“Very curiously, Ray Epps is not indicted. It doesn’t seem like the feds want him or have any interest in him — although they did,” Beattie said. “They had him for a while on their most-wanted page, until Revolver News did a report.”

Others did have questions about Epps based on video shared on social media.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky showed footage of a man reported to be Epps to Attorney General Merrick Garland during a House oversight hearing in October 2021. In the video, bystanders could be heard yelling, “Fed, fed, fed,” when Epps called for going into the Capitol.

Do you think Ray Epps had something to do with January 6th?

The U.K. Independent reported in January 2022 that the FBI “can’t say” who Epps is. He appeared as No. 16 on the agency’s most wanted list of people the Feds wanted to identify after the Jan. 6 incursion. But he was later removed from the list and not charged with any crime.

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas questioned FBI Assistant Executive Director Jill Sanborn during her appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee that same month about Epps.

“Ms. Sanborn, was Ray Epps a fed?” Cruz asked.

Related:
Pete Hegseth Preemptively Crushes Leftist Media Hit Piece Before It's Even Published - He Brought the Receipts

“Sir, I cannot answer that question,” Sanborn responded.

Cruz next presented photographs allegedly showing Epps whispering to some protesters, who then proceeded to tear down a barricade around the Capitol.

“Did Mr. Epps urge them to tear down the barricades?” he asked.

Once again, Sanborn said she could not answer the question.

Finally, Cruz pointed out that Epps was originally among those pictured on an FBI wanted notice in the days immediately after Jan. 6.

In fact a cash reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of Epps, the senator said.

However, “magically,” by July, Epps had disappeared from the public posting, Cruz noted.

Though lawmakers like Massie and Cruz raised questions about Epps, his complaint accuses Fox of acting with malice toward him.

“Fox refused to retract, correct, or apologize for its demonstrably false and defamatory accusations against Epps well after Fox knew definitively that they were false, providing yet additional circumstantial evidence of actual malice. Fox thus broadcast its lies about Epps with a high degree of awareness of probable falsity,” the suit says.

Further, “Fox’s portrayal of Epps has caused Epps significant damages, as a result of the false statements.”

The complaint lists “being harassed and receiving death threats; forced to spend money to protect himself and his family; forced to give up his businesses and sell his home; forced to flee and live in isolation; and forced to face financial ruin, loss of income” and other mental and physical sufferings.

Epps seeks both compensatory and punitive damages for his lost income and well-being in an amount to be determined at trial.

“As Fox recently learned in its litigation against Dominion Voting Systems, its lies have consequences,” the complaint says.

Fox fired Carlson the same week it agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million in a defamation suit claiming that the news outlet’s coverage regarding the use of its voting machines in the 2020 election hurt the company’s reputation in the industry.

Both Dominion and Fox have denied Carlson’s removal was part of the settlement agreement.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , ,
Share
Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he began with the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

Conversation