Ray Epps Loses Fox News Defamation Case Over Jan. 6 Coverage

A federal judge has dismissed Ray Epps’ amended defamation lawsuit against Fox News, ruling that he failed to meet the legal standard needed to move the case forward.

Epps, a former Trump supporter and Marine, alleged that Fox News falsely portrayed him as a government-linked figure who helped provoke the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He said the coverage led to harassment, death threats, and forced him and his wife to sell their Arizona ranch and live in an RV.

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U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall ruled that Epps did not provide enough factual support to show Fox knew the statements were false or acted with reckless disregard.

The ruling does not mean every claim about Epps was true. It means the amended lawsuit did not satisfy the high “actual malice” standard required in a public-figure defamation case.

Fox welcomed the ruling as a First Amendment victory, according to AP.

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