Nunes Loses First Round In CNN Defamation Lawsuit

Law & Crime reports:

CNN won a minor court battle against Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on Friday. The network successfully moved to have Nunes’s defamation lawsuit transferred from a Virginia federal court to a much closer venue in New York City.

“Only CNN is listed as a named defendant,” the filing states. “For reasons neither explained nor readily apparent, the Amended Complaint lists, inter alia, Vicky Ward and Chris Cuomo as parties. Ward is a senior reporter for CNN, and Cuomo anchors Cuomo Prime Time, which airs on CNN. Nunes, Ward, and Cuomo are not alleged to live or work in Virginia.”

“CNN is the mother of fake news,” the 47-page lawsuit filed in Virginia reads. “It is the least trusted name. CNN is eroding the fabric of America, proselytizing, sowing distrust and disharmony. It must be held accountable. On November 22, 2019, CNN published a demonstrably false hit piece about [Nunes].”

Today’s ruling slams Nunes for “forum shopping” by seeking a Trump-friendly judge in Virginia. Nunes is suing CNN for $425 million.

This could mean the end of the suit. Nunes’ lawyer isn’t admitted to practice in NY, and he is unlikely to be admitted on a temporary basis because of a past issue. Nunes *could* switch lawyers, but… https://t.co/R7oZikKLG4

— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) May 22, 2020