NEW YORK (AP) – A defamation lawsuit filed by US Representative Devin Nunes against CNN was dismissed by a Manhattan judge on Friday.
The lawsuit, which claimed more than $ 435 million in damages, was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who said the California Republican had failed to request a retraction in a timely manner or set out his claims properly.
Nunes alleged that on November 22, 2019, the cable news company deliberately published a fake news article and conspired to defame him and damage his personal and professional reputation.
According to the lawsuit, CNN released a report making false claims that Nunes was involved in attempts to “dirty” then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Nunes lawyers said in court documents that CNN knew Lev Parnas’ statements, and included in their report, were false.
Parnas, an associate of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, has pleaded not guilty to Manhattan federal court on charges that he made illegal contributions to politicians he believed could aid his political and business interests. His trial is scheduled for October.
Parnas and another co-defendant worked with Giuliani to try to get Ukrainian officials to investigate Biden’s son, prosecutors said. Giuliani has said he was unaware of the men’s political contributions. He has not been charged.
Nunes’ lawsuit said Parnas told lies to get immunity.
“It was clear to everyone – including the outrageous CNN – that Parnas was a fraud and a con man. It was clear that his lies were part of a thinly disguised attempt to obstruct justice, ”the lawsuit said.
In court documents, CNN lawyers said that prior to publication, Nunes and his staff declined to comment on whether Nunes had met with a Ukrainian prosecutor.
“Rather than denying the report before it was published, Rep. Nunes waited for it to appear and then filed a lawsuit seeking more than $ 435 million in damages – labeling CNN as ‘the mother of fake news,’ the report wrote. lawyers for CNN. “However, in his haste to file a lawsuit, Rep. Nunes overlooked the need to request a revocation first.”
The attorneys noted that California law, which Swain said was appropriate for the case, requires that written withdrawal be required within 20 days of the publication of a story.
Messages asking for comment were sent to lawyers for Nunes and CNN.