Trump Campaign Launches Legal Attacks on Media Outlets
With just days to go before the presidential election, the Trump campaign has taken aim at two major media outlets, accusing them of illegally supporting Kamala Harris through their news coverage and advertising. However, legal experts are dismissing the claims as baseless.
Washington Post Accused of Illegal Contributions
The Trump campaign filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that The Washington Post made “Illegal Corporate In-Kind Contributions” to Harris. The complaint is based on a report that the Post highlighted numerous articles critical of Trump while giving more neutral coverage to the Democratic nominee. However, experts say the claim is unfounded.
Columbia Law School Professor Richard Briffault stated that there is no evidence of coordination between the Post and the Harris campaign, and that the newspaper’s actions are protected by the Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. FEC. The Post itself has denied any wrongdoing, stating that its social media marketing strategy reflects high-performing content across all verticals and subjects.
CBS Sued Over Edited “60 Minutes” Interview
In a separate move, Trump filed a federal civil lawsuit against CBS Broadcasting, seeking $10 billion in damages over the network’s editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Harris. The lawsuit alleges that CBS unlawfully interfered in the election to help get Harris elected, but experts are calling it an “outrageous violation of First Amendment principles.”
Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman stated that the case is “completely without merit,” while another First Amendment attorney, Rebecca Tushnet, called it “ridiculous junk” that should be mocked. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Amarillo, Texas, where it will be heard by Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump nominee with a conservative judicial record.
Experts Weigh In
Legal experts are unanimous in their assessment that Trump’s efforts are frivolous and lack any real legal basis. The lawsuits are seen as a desperate attempt to sway public opinion in the final days of the election campaign. As one expert put it, “This is litigation by press release and not more serious than that.”
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