Overview
- Newsom’s lawsuit alleges Fox News deliberately distorted his June 7 phone call with President Trump to cast him as untruthful about sending the National Guard to Los Angeles.
- He is seeking $787 million in damages, matching the amount Fox News paid to settle Dominion Voting’s defamation claims.
- Newsom will withdraw his claim if Fox News issues a formal retraction and public apology.
- Fox News has called the lawsuit “aussichtslos” and accused the governor of threatening freedom of expression.
- The case highlights ongoing disputes over federal versus state authority on immigration enforcement and signals a rising trend in large-scale defamation actions against media outlets.