A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Raymond Epps against Fox News, a decision rendered on Wednesday. Epps, who previously supported Donald Trump, claimed he faced threats to his life after the network propagated false conspiracy theories regarding his supposed involvement in the events of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol.
The claims suggested that Epps, a former Marine, was portrayed by Fox as a government agent inciting disturbances near the Capitol, allegedly to frame Trump supporters for the chaos that ensued that day.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall, located in Delaware, granted Fox’s motion to dismiss the case without providing a comment on the matter.
In 2023, shortly before initiating his lawsuit, Epps participated in a “60 Minutes” segment, discussing the harassment he and his wife encountered as a result of the claims made against him. To escape the ongoing nightmares, they decided to sell their ranch in Arizona and relocate.
Epps specifically pointed out Tucker Carlson, who was terminated from Fox in April 2023 under undisclosed circumstances, as the primary promoter of the conspiracy theory relating to him. At the time of the broadcasts, Carlson was leading Fox’s most-watched program.
In a statement released on the same day, Fox News noted that two other defamation lawsuits against the network had recently been dismissed. These cases involved Nina Jankowicz, a former disinformation officer in the Biden administration, and Tony Bobulinski, who had ties to Hunter Biden’s business ventures.
Expressing satisfaction, Fox News commented, “Following the dismissals of the Jankowicz, Bobulinski, and now Epps cases, we are pleased with these consecutive rulings from federal courts, reinforcing the press freedoms protected under the First Amendment.”