A federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against Fox News and its former primetime host Tucker Carlson, ruling that the plaintiff, January 6 participant James Ray Epps Sr., failed to meet the legal standard of “actual malice.”
Judge Jennifer L. Hall of the Delaware Federal District Court issued the decision on Wednesday, stating that Epps did not sufficiently prove Carlson or Fox News knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
The lawsuit centered on Carlson’s repeated claims that Epps was a federal agent who provoked the January 6 breach on the U.S. Capitol. Epps, a former Marine and Trump supporter, argued in his complaint that these allegations severely damaged his reputation, subjected him to threats and harassment, and caused financial ruin.
Carlson prominently featured Epps in multiple broadcasts, portraying him as a key figure who “helped stage-manage the insurrection.” Despite statements to the contrary by the FBI and the House January 6 Committee, Carlson questioned why Epps was not charged or arrested, fueling speculation among his audience.
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Epps, once an avid viewer of Carlson’s program, claimed that the allegations against him turned his life upside down. The complaint described harassment, including death