Ex-Head of DHS Disinformation Governance Board Sues Fox News for Defamation

May 11, 2023

In "Ex-head of DHS disinformation governance board sues Fox News for defamation" (ABC News, May 12, 2023), a defamation lawsuit has been filed by Nina Jankowicz, the former executive director of the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board, against Fox News. Jankowicz alleges that Fox News knowingly spread falsehoods about the board, causing her to face doxing, threats, and relentless harassment.

The lawsuit asserts that Fox News intentionally misled viewers, with Jankowicz stating, "Fox chose to lie about Jankowicz deliberately. Its statements were false and calculated to cause harm, and they did." This legal battle unfolds shortly after Fox News settled a $1.6 billion lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems, further amplifying its significance.

Jankowicz's appointment to lead the Disinformation Governance Board, aimed at protecting Americans from disinformation, faced opposition from the GOP and civil liberties groups. Resigning after a month and later deemed unnecessary by a DHS panel, Jankowicz claims that Fox News defamed her by falsely portraying the board as a censorship tool. The lawsuit alleges that Fox News intentionally spread malicious falsehoods, disregarding the board's actual purpose and inciting threats against Jankowicz.

As the case proceeds, Fox News has sought to move it from Delaware state court to the Delaware federal court. The lawsuit names several Fox personalities, including Jesse Waters, Judge Jeanine Pirro, and Tucker Carlson.

The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware by Pollock Cohen LLP, Upper Seven Law, and Farnan LLP. 

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Ex-Head of DHS Disinformation Governance Board Sues Fox News for Defamation | ABC News