Jankowicz Resignation Sparks Defamation Dispute with Fox News
- A federal judge dismissed Nina Jankowicz's lawsuit against Fox News, stating the network's statements about her role were constitutionally protected opinions.
- The judge noted that even if those statements were viewed as factual, they were substantially true.
- This ruling highlights the complexities of defamation law and the protections afforded to media outlets.
In a recent legal dispute, Nina Jankowicz has alleged that her resignation from the Disinformation Governance Board was a direct result of false statements made by Fox News, which led to harassment. Fox News has countered that Jankowicz's defamation claim should be dismissed, arguing that many of the statements cited in her complaint do not pertain to her personally but rather to the Board or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Jankowicz contends that several of these statements were indeed about her, asserting that they defamed her by implication. The court has agreed to dismiss Jankowicz's defamation claim regarding 36 of the statements, as they are not directly related to her. Jankowicz's complaint highlights that the Board was intended to serve as a liaison for DHS in addressing misinformation, and she argues that certain statements suggested she aimed to censor American speech. However, the court noted that these statements are largely opinion-based and not easily provable as true or false. Fox News has specifically addressed three statements regarding Jankowicz's departure from her role, arguing that they do not constitute defamation under New York law. The court concurred, stating that the nature of Jankowicz's resignation—whether voluntary or forced—would not significantly alter public perception, especially given the context of the Board's suspension. Ultimately, the court's ruling emphasizes the distinction between opinion and actionable defamation, suggesting that the statements made about Jankowicz's intentions and motivations do not meet the legal threshold for defamation claims.