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Trump during a US Republican debate in December 2015;
it was organized by CNN at the time
Photo:
ROBYN BECK / AFP
Former US President Donald Trump accuses the news broadcaster CNN of defamation – and wants to sue for damages in the hundreds of millions.
Trump's attorneys filed a lawsuit in a Florida state court on Monday.
It said the broadcaster tried to use its massive influence as a supposedly trusted news source to defame and "politically defeat" it.
This smear campaign has only intensified in recent months "because CNN fears that the plaintiff will run for president in 2024".
As part of a “concerted effort” to tip the political balance to the left, CNN scandalously labeled Trump a “racist” or a “Russian lackey” and compared it to Hitler.
Examples of this are listed on around two dozen pages in the complaint.
Damages of 475 million dollars are demanded, which is the equivalent of about 483 million euros.
The lawyers wrote that the CNN reporting had caused Trump's reputation damage, "pain, humiliation and mental anguish".
CNN has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
Media that report critically about him regularly denigrate Trump as lying ("fake news") and as "enemies of the people".
For months, the Republican has fueled speculation that he could run again as a candidate for his party in the 2024 presidential election.
He describes every action taken against him, including various legal disputes with official bodies, as an attempt by his political opponents to prevent him from running for office.
Trump currently has to defend himself on several fronts at the same time against different legal authorities and civil lawsuits.
You can read an overview and further background information here.
aar/dpa