Trump Campaign Hits CNN with Lawsuit for ‘Millions of Dollars’

“False statements are not protected under the U.S. Constitution; therefore, these suits will have no chilling effect on freedom of the press. If journalists are more accurate in their statements and reporting, that would be a positive development, but not why these suits were filed,” Ellis added.

The standard for a public figure, like Trump, to successfully sue for libel is proof of “actual malice” in knowingly or acting in reckless disregard by publishing false information.

The complaint alleges CNN’s conduct reached that threshold.

The legal team references undercover videos released by Project Veritas last fall as proof of CNN’s malice against Trump.

“In the Project Veritas footage, Nick Neville, a Media Coordinator at CNN, admits that CNN’s chief executive, Jeff Zucker, has a personal vendetta against the President,” the document states.

According to Project Veritas, Neville says, “Jeff Zucker — basically president of CNN has a personal vendetta against Trump. Your own biases are gonna be there. They’re going to seep into what you think, they’re gonna seep into what you say.”

He added, “if Jeff Zucker like blatantly hates Trump, and he runs CNN (which he does), it’s not gonna be positive (for you guys)…no I mean it’s not gonna be positive for Trump. He hates him. It’s gonna be negative!”

The complaint also notes in another Project Veritas video, John Bonifield, a Supervising Producer at CNN states his network’s coverage regarding Russia’s alleged interference with the 2016 election was “bulls—” and that the president “is probably right to say … you are witch-hunting me.”

The legal filing states, “CNN’s actions show willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression and that entire want of care which raises a presumption of conscious indifference to the consequences, and accordingly the Campaign is entitled to an award of punitive damages against CNN.”