CNN Can't Dodge Alan Dershowitz Libel Suit

Alan Dershowitz will be able to move to discovery after 
surviving the first round of a defamation lawsuit against CNN 
over its coverage of Donald Trump’s impeachment.

The famed attorney was representing Trump in the 2020 Senate 
trial when he answered a question from Ted Cruz about whether a 
president can be impeached and removed from office if he takes 
any action that is motivated by a desire to be reelected. 
Dershowitz gave a lengthy response that concluded, “Every public 
official that I know believes that his election is in the public 
interest and, mostly you are right, your election is in the 
public interest, and if a president does something which he 
believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that 
cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.”

Later, discussing that moment from the impeachment trial, Joe 
Lockhart appeared on CNN and discussed Dershowitz’ “absurd” 
views that he believed a president had “license to commit 
crimes” if it’s better for the country.

“The Dershowitz Doctrine would make presidents immune from every 
criminal act, so long as they could plausibly claim they did it 
to boost their re-election effort,” added Paul Begala, another 
politico pro turned CNN pundit. “Campaign finance laws: out the 
window. Bribery statutes: gone. Extortion: no more.”

In his libel claim, Dershowitz alleges CNN provided an edited 
version of what he said and a misleading narrative about his 
views that damaged his reputation as a scholar. He’s seeking 
$300 million in damages.

CNN, in a motion to dismiss, argued that it was protected by the 
fair report privilege, which shields the press from reporting  
about government proceedings.

U.S. District Court Raag Singhal agrees with Dershowitz that a 
misleading presentation cancels out such a defense.

“CNN presented an abridgment of Dershowitz’ answer to Senator 
Cruz’ question,” he writes. “The abridgment is not accurate, to 
the extent that it omitted a crucial qualification: that an 
illegal motive for a quid pro quo would be corrupt. As a result, 
the commentators’ statements – that Dershowitz believes a 
President can do anything, even commit crimes if it would help 
his re-election – are not based upon a fair and accurate summary 
of Dershowitz’ statement to the Senate.”

The judge takes CNN’s point that journalists have discretion and 
aren’t obligated to present all information that puts its 
subject in a positive light, but still concludes that CNN fell 
short of a standard of fairness.

CNN argued there were other grounds to dismiss the complaint 
including that the allegedly defamatory statements were opinions 
and there was nothing to support actual malice. On the former, 
Singhal sees the statements as mixed opinions with some factual 
foundation that could be challenged as false. On the latter 
front, even though the judge strikes Dershowitz’ allegation of 
political animus, he rules there’s enough at this stage. 
Accepting what’s pled as true, as judges must do in federal 
court on a motion to dismiss, Singhal points to the aspects of 
Dershowitz complaint alleging CNN had knowledge of his qualified 
views on the topic of unlawful actions by a president.

Singhal adds, “Whether the evidence adduced will ultimately 
satisfy Dershowitz’ burden of proving actual malice by clear and 
convincing evidence remains to be seen. But he has alleged 
enough to go forward.”

See the full opinion below…

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/cnn-cant-dodge-alan-
dershowitz-libel-suit-1234958859/