In an unprecedented move, Ray Epps, a self-proclaimed Donald Trump supporter seen wearing a red Trump hat in the center of a crowd gathering at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News. Epps accuses the network of spreading falsehoods by promoting the baseless claim that he was an undercover FBI agent responsible for inciting the mob of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol that day. This lawsuit comes on the heels of Fox News’ parent company settling a $787.5 million defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems over false claims made about the 2020 presidential election results.
Epps, an Arizona resident and former U.S. Marine, asserts that Fox News must face the consequences of its lies, as evident from the Dominion case. He specifically targets former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who played a central role in promoting the unfounded conspiracy theory about Epps. It is worth noting that Epps and other Trump supporters were fueled by false claims of election rigging propagated by Trump and his allies.
According to Epps’ complaint, Fox News sought to shift blame away from Trump and the Republican Party following the events of January 6th. This led them to concoct an outlandish story, painting Epps — a loyal Trump supporter who participated in the protests — as an undercover FBI agent responsible for the violent breach of the Capitol. Epps emphasizes that these lies have not only destroyed his life, but also the life of his wife, Robyn.
The lawsuit also reveals that Epps received a criminal notice from the U.S. Department of Justice in May, indicating their intention to criminally charge him for his actions on January 6, 2021. Epps believes that the relentless attacks by Fox News and Tucker Carlson, and the resulting political pressure, contributed to the decision to pursue these charges. The lawsuit argues that the criminal charges conclusively debunk the false narrative propagated by Fox News and Carlson.
Fox News, in response, has requested for the lawsuit to be transferred to U.S. District Court in Delaware. At the time of reporting, Fox News has not issued a comment on the matter.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as new information emerges.
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