NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. Attorney Devin Nunes, who was brought against CNN, was arraigned by a judge in Manhattan on Friday.
The lawsuit, which seeks more than $ 435 million in damages, was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who said the Republican in California did not request a timely withdrawal or declare his claims sufficient.
Nunes alleged that on November 22, 2019, the cable news company intentionally published a fake news article and had a conspiracy to defame him and damage his personal and professional reputation.
The lawsuit alleges that CNN published a report containing false allegations that Nunes was involved in an attempt to defile “then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.”
Lawyers for Nunes said in court documents that CNN knew that the statements made by Lev Parnas, and included in their report, were false.
Parnas, an aide to former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Manhattan to charges in which he allegedly made illegal contributions to politicians he thought could help his political and business interests. His trial is scheduled for October.
Parnas and another co-accused worked with Giuliani to get Ukrainian officials to investigate Biden’s son, prosecutors said. Giuliani said he knew nothing of the men’s political contributions. He was not charged.
According to the Nunes case, Parnas told lies to try to gain immunity.
“It was clear to everyone – including the disgraceful CNN – that Parnassus was a fraud and a deceiver. “It was clear that his lies were part of a thinly veiled attempt to obstruct justice,” the lawsuit said.
In court documents, CNN lawyers said that Nunes and his staff did not want to comment on whether Nunes had met with a Ukrainian prosecutor before publication.
“Instead of denying the report before it was published, Rep. Nunes waited until it appeared, and then filed the lawsuit seeking more than $ 435 million in damages. It called CNN ‘the mother of fake news.’ . “, Writes CNN attorneys. “In his haste to sue,” rep. Nunes, however, first overlooked the need to request a revocation. ‘
The attorneys noted that California law, which Swain said is appropriate for the case, requires that a written claim be made within 20 days of the publication of a story.
Comments were sent to lawyers from Nunes and CNN.