Former DHS disinformation expert sues Fox News for defamation
NBCAPR 2023
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.
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.