Ray Epps sues Fox News for Capitol riot conspiracy claim
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A former US Marine who became the focus of right-wing conspiracies surrounding the Capitol riot is suing Fox News for defamation.
The legal action accuses Fox of telling a "fantastical story" suggesting Ray Epps was a federal agent to make him a "scapegoat" for the raid on Congress.
Mr Epps was filmed encouraging people to enter the Capitol complex in January 2021, but he was not charged.
The lawsuit, filed in court in Delaware on Wednesday, does not specify damages.
It also names Tucker Carlson, who was taken off air by the network earlier this year.
Mr Epps' lawyer says his client and his wife had to close their wedding venue business in Arizona and move to a small motorhome in Utah because of threats and harassment they endured as a result of the conspiracy theories.
Mr Epps was in Washington the night before the riot with Trump supporters near the Capitol and on the day of the riot itself.
He was seen in a video urging people to enter the building. Members of the crowd chanted back "Fed! Fed!" - accusing him of being a law enforcement official.
Mr Epps has said in interviews that he has no ties to law enforcement agencies and that he did not enter the Capitol during the riot.
He has also said he got carried away by his mistaken belief that widespread fraud swayed the 2020 election and his support for Donald Trump.
Mr Epps has said he was questioned by FBI agents, but has not been arrested in connection with the riot.
In a statement, Mr Epps' lawyer Michael Teter said the lawsuit "marks another moment of accountability".
"For years, Fox News and Mr Carlson created and amplified conspiracy theories about Ray that lacked any foundation in fact," Mr Teter said.
"For years, Fox News and Mr Carlson created and amplified conspiracy theories about Ray that lacked any foundation in fact," Mr Teter said.
"They have endured significant emotional and psychological harm from the attacks," the attorney added.
It is the latest legal action against Fox News, which settled a lawsuit by voting machine company Dominion for $787.5m (£606m) in April.
Fox also faces a $2.7bn defamation lawsuit filed by another election technology company, Smartmatic, which accuses the channel of broadcasting lies that "decimated" its business.
Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia, told the BBC the volume of evidence that emerged during the Dominion case was vastly larger than what has so far appeared in Mr Epps' lawsuit.
"But the allegations in the complaint, if proved, might expose Tucker Carlson and Fox to some liability," Mr Tobias added.
He also said the "difficult part" for Mr Epps will be to prove "that somehow there was actual malice in the reporting, and that they were engaged in serious misconduct in neglecting to do what should have been done by way of fact checking".
The BBC has contacted Fox News and Mr Carlson for comment.
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Gee FOX, the chickens are coming to roost.
Wray wouldn't name the FBI assets there that day. Does he get away with that?
Ask the guy who hired him because he was "the best".
In all seriousness Vic, tell us why you think it matters so much if there were FBI personnel located in the crowd at the Capitol building riot?
It would have been dereliction to not have agents in the crowd of a threatened "wild' scene at the capitol.
If you are trying to imply that the riot was instigated by federal agents you are out of your mind.
I was listening to that fascist gorka yesterday and the salem news channel was repeating the same claims epps is suing FOX over. he needs to sue them for defamation also and take down that xtian nationalist cabal and put their line up of authoritarian propagandists out of work.
why would he disclose how many agents have infiltrated the domestic terrorist groups of trump supporters.
Ray Epps is about to become a wealthy man.
Doubtful. They have reason or they wouldn't take the chance....................
They took the chance by allowing Tucker to defame Epps night after night. Epps is a private citizen.
Epps is also going to be arrested............................
What the Fates give with one hand they take away with the other.
Why? What’s the character of a man who was j6’s main cheerleader worth? Is calling a man, who you and many other progressives surprisingly don’t call a traitor, a fed that big of an insult to his character?
Give the left wings obsession destroying the lives of any who transgresses their values, it is odd how much they defend this guy, who should be their main enemy.
Why is Ray Epps different than many others who were at the rally? Why did Fox News pick him out to obsess over?
Because they thought they could use his name to portray the riot/insurrection as having been conducted by the "deep state" instead of MAGA traitors.
Now they are going to pay this man millions of dollars after having ruined his life.
He either directed people to enter the capitol in which case he’s no better than all the people who were arrested/lost jobs and were hounded by liberals and has no reputation to defame, or he’s an actual fed.
of all people, I would expect you to claim Epps’s conduct makes him defamation proof.
Proving that lawyers will file charges for anyone, for any reason. Just have to find some sleazy enough. Which is far too easy in this country.
They have Epps on multiple videos inciting attendees of the Trump rally. It isn't up for dispute.
The fact that the FBI and Garland haven't had him arrested and charged tells the whole damn story. They have arrested and filed charges against several people for just being there that didn't enter the capitol building. Think they would really let Epps go if he wasn't working for the FBI in some capacity?
Any decent defense lawyer would force both Wray and Garland to testify under oath- and the second they give their BS "We can't comment on ongoing investigations" comment the judge slaps them both with contempt of court charges. See how they like jail time until they find their memories and their damn tongues.
Epps will get his day in court. Wray and Garland should have their parts in it.
... especially when you have a thumper SCOTUS willing to legislate their purchased agenda from the bench.
Epps is a RINO … rioter in name only.