A Delaware court ruling brings an unexpected twist to the legal battle between a former Marine and a major news network over conspiracy theories surrounding the Capitol riot.
According to The Hill, a Delaware judge has dismissed Ray Epps's defamation lawsuit against Fox News, which alleged the network promoted harmful conspiracy theories about his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
The dismissal marks a significant victory for Fox News in its ongoing legal battles regarding coverage of events surrounding January 6.
Epps, who recently received a one-year probation sentence for his role in the Capitol riot, had claimed the network knowingly spread false narratives suggesting he was a federal agent who intentionally provoked violence to discredit Trump supporters.
Fox News has secured multiple favorable court decisions in recent months, bolstering its legal standing. The dismissal of Epps's case follows another successful defense against Tony Bobulinski, a former Hunter Biden associate who had filed a defamation case against host Jessica Tarlov in New York.
The network's legal momentum extends beyond these two cases. Earlier this summer, Fox News successfully defended against a lawsuit brought by Nina Jankowicz, who previously led the Department of Homeland Security's disinformation board.
These consecutive legal victories have reinforced Fox News's position regarding First Amendment protections. The network has emphasized the importance of press freedoms in each of these cases.
The conspiracy theory surrounding Epps gained significant traction in right-wing media circles following the Capitol riot. Former Fox host Tucker Carlson was among the prominent figures who amplified these claims on his platform.
Epps's involvement in the January 6 events has been thoroughly documented. He admitted to engaging in disorderly conduct in a restricted area during the Capitol breach, leading to his probation sentence.
The conspiracy theories suggested that Epps acted as a government agent provocateur, deliberately inciting violence to create negative publicity for Trump supporters. These claims persisted despite the lack of evidence supporting such allegations.
Fox News released an official statement celebrating their recent legal successes:
Following the dismissals of the Jankowicz, Bobulinski, and now Epps cases, Fox News is pleased with these back-to-back decisions from federal courts preserving the press freedoms of the First Amendment.
Ray Epps's defamation lawsuit against Fox News, filed in Delaware, has been dismissed by a judge. The lawsuit centered on allegations that the network promoted conspiracy theories suggesting Epps, who received probation for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, was a federal agent attempting to discredit Trump supporters.
The dismissal represents the third recent legal victory for Fox News, following successful defenses against lawsuits from Tony Bobulinski and Nina Jankowicz. These decisions collectively reinforce the network's First Amendment protections and establish significant precedents for press freedom in coverage of controversial political events.
