Score a win for MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.
When Maddow pointed out that President Donald Trump’s new favorite right-wing propaganda network OANN is pushing Russian talking points, OANN threw a hissy fit and filed a lawsuit against Maddow and NBC alleging defamation.
Well, a federal judge just smacked down that lawsuit and now Maddow can seek coverage of her legal fees.
It seems conservatives and right-wing media have taken to filing defamation lawsuits in a concerted effort to silence Democrats and news organizations. Just ask Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who has lost several of them lately.
Clearly, however, judges are seeing right through these frivolous filings.
In Maddow’s case, Judge Cynthia Bashant ruled that OANN did not have a case against her as she reported accurately on an article written by The Daily Beast profiling OANN.
Twitter users responded by mocking OANN into oblivion.
Best part: The suit was dismissed under the California anti-SLAPP statute, which protects speech on matters of public interest from frivolous suits. As the victor, Maddow will now have the opportunity to seek attorneys’ fees from OAN.
— Ash (@cuzkristoff) May 22, 2020
Speaking of @OANN – heard y’all got bench slapped
Or more precisely ANTI-SLAPP reigns supreme.
Whomp
Whomp
Judge Tosses OAN Defamation Suit Against Rachel Maddow https://t.co/Qe618w3wZW via @thedailybeast— File411 (@File411) May 22, 2020
OAN may have to cough up for Maddow’s legal fees too! Awww Yisss pic.twitter.com/Xl867GGg5s
— James Wilson (@JamesWi04828269) May 22, 2020
ICYMI, ? Trump fave got, well, OAN’d… by @maddow https://t.co/Jxk07dUSE7
— Laffy (@GottaLaff) May 23, 2020
“..the complaint is dismissed with prejudice,” Judge Cynthia Bashant writes in her opinion. NBC may file a motion to have OAN cover its attorneys fees
???Bravo Judge Bashant
??✨?
You’re out of your league, guys. Don’t f with @maddow kay? ?Found this cool meme in replies https://t.co/BNkj4XJqp0 pic.twitter.com/gaMk2SNqL4
— ✨Scarlet?The Fiery Avenger #StayHomeStaySafe?Fan (@ScarletAvengers) May 22, 2020
Uh oh, OANN just bigly lost a lawsuit to Dr Rachel Maddow, PhD.
I hope she counter sues.
How come OANN isn’t talking about their reporter who was paid by the Russian government?@col_willie https://t.co/4mR9l3KQCC
— harry h stamper, phd (@harryhstamper1) May 23, 2020
Good for Maddow. There’s only one reason why anyone from OAN is allowed to get a press pass for a White House news conference: Donald Trump. In any other administration, OAN would be considered a terrorist group.
— Thom Forr (@2byIV) May 23, 2020
Damn right @maddow didn’t defame OAN. Owners, Executives and their employees have as thin of skin as their benefactor Trump has. https://t.co/HROvKFRiDU
— Layne Beckman Wright (@BeckmanLayne) May 22, 2020
And so, just like Trump and Nunes, OANN is a big loser.
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