Trump sues CBS News; network says suit "completely without merit"

Former President Donald Trump has sued CBS News, alleging nan network's "deceitful" editing of a caller 60 Minutes question and reply pinch Vice President Kamala Harris misled nan nationalist and unfairly disadvantaged him.

In a connection released Thursday, CBS News called nan erstwhile president's claims "completely without merit" and said nan web intended to vigorously take sides against nan lawsuit.

The lawsuit, which comes conscionable days earlier nan 2 candidates look disconnected successful nan 2024 statesmanlike election, centers connected 2 clips of an October question and reply 60 Minutes conducted pinch Harris. One of nan clips was edited to see a longer conception of her consequence to a mobility astir nan conflict successful nan Middle East. Trump's suit contends this editing determination was meant to intentionally assistance his force and mislead nan public, thing CBS News has disputed.

"To insubstantial complete Kamala's 'word salad' weakness, CBS utilized its nationalist level connected 60 Minutes to transverse nan statement from nan workout of judgement successful reporting to deceitful, deceptive manipulation of news," nan suit claims. The suit says nan erstwhile president seeks a assemblage proceedings and astatine slightest $10 cardinal successful damages.

"Former President Trump's repeated claims against 60 Minutes are false," nan network statement says. "The Interview was not doctored."

Trump's ineligible title was revenge Thursday successful national tribunal successful nan Northern District of Texas Amarillo division, a distant venue wherever nan lone judge is simply a 2019 Trump appointee. Republican-led states and typical liking groups person directed astatine slightest 14 politically delicate cases to that tribunal since January 2021, according to progressive watchdog group Accountable.US.

The suit does not declare Trump was defamed by nan network, said Geoffrey R. Stone, a First Amendment clever clever and rule professor astatine nan University of Chicago, who reviewed nan complaint. Instead, nan suit attempts a caller usage of a Texas statute that is meant to forestall advertisers from misleading nan nationalist astir a merchandise being sold — nan Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act.

Stone called it a "misapplication" of nan law.

"That statute is astir income — a salesperson tin beryllium held liable for stating that a merchandise has definite affirmative effects erstwhile he knows it doesn't," Stone said. "But CBS is not engaged successful advertizing here."

Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman, a law rule expert, said he was mystified by nan Trump claims and called nan lawsuit an "outrageous usurpation of First Amendment principles."

"This is simply a title truthful sick grounded that it comes adjacent to being sanctionable arsenic frivolous," Feldman said.

The erstwhile president has for weeks been voicing his displeasure astir nan question and reply connected nan run trail. 

"Millions of Americans, including residents of Texas and this District, were confused and misled by nan 2 doctored Interview versions," nan suit alleges.

In an earlier connection released by 60 Minutes, nan web explained nan 2 clips were edited otherwise because 1 segment, which appeared connected "Face nan Nation," afforded much clip to accommodate a longer conception of Harris's answer.

"Same question. Same answer. But a different information of nan response," nan Oct. 20 statement from 60 Minutes said. "When we edit immoderate interview, whether a politician, an athlete, aliases movie star, we strive to beryllium clear, meticulous and connected point. The information of her reply connected 60 Minutes was much succinct, which allows clip for different subjects successful a wide ranging 21-minute-long segment."

Trump had been invited to beryllium for his ain question and reply connected 60 Minutes but declined.

The erstwhile president has antecedently revenge respective lawsuits against media organizations, including a March defamation lawsuit against ABC News complete a mobility asked by anchor George Stephanopoulos during an interview. 

He has mislaid anterior defamation lawsuits against CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

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