Former DHS disinformation expert sues Fox News for defamation
NBCFeb 12, 2023
The Facts
Ray Epps, who attended the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, has filed a defamation lawsuit against both Fox News and Tucker Carlson, accusing them of promoting a "false" and "fantastical" story that alleges him to be an undercover federal agent.
Epps, a Trump voter in both 2016 and 2020, has been previously accused of being an undercover FBI agent who incited the Capitol Hill riots as part of a government plot to undermine the former president.
The former US Marine was filmed encouraging rioters to enter the Capitol in January 2021 — however, Epps denies going inside the complex himself and has claimed in previous interviews he became carried away and mistaken by Trump's accusations of voter fraud in 2020.
The Spin
Left narrative
It's clear from Fox's previous settlements and the firing of Tucker Carlson that the company wishes to tidy up its messes and move on. The Murdoch machine wishes to do so without offering apologies or retractions concerning any of its controversial claims. Despite the seemingly continuous wave of lawsuits against Fox, Murdoch's news outlet continues to hold out against the option of admitting they were wrong and apologizing.
Right narrative
Fox news wasn't the only one promoting the theory that Epps was a government agent, with other mainstream proponents including Republican senator Ted Cruz and Republican congressman Thomas Massie. While it may have turned out to be inaccurate, Fox News was at the time airing newsworthy claims, not making a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of Epps, or acting through actual malice. A successful lawsuit could have damaging repercussions to press freedom.
