Media

Judge dismisses Nina Jankowicz lawsuit against Fox News

Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation expert and vice president at the Centre for Information Resilience, poses for a portrait in Washington, DC, on March 23, 2023.

A judge in Delaware tossed a lawsuit filed by Nina Jankowicz, the former head of the short-lived Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disinformation board, against Fox News.

The judge granted Fox’s motion on Monday to have the case dismissed, according to court documents, ruling the statements Jankowicz had alleged were defamatory were either about the board she oversaw and not her, or were materially true.

Jankowicz’s lawsuit had alleged Fox falsely claimed she “intended to censor Americans’ speech” and that she “wanted to give verified Twitter users, including herself, the power to edit others’ tweets,” among other claims.

A leading disinformation researcher and writer, Jankowicz resigned in 2022, shortly after taking the role when DHS decided to “pause” the work of the board following backlash.

“This was a politically motivated lawsuit aimed at silencing free speech, and we are pleased with the court’s decision to protect the First Amendment,” the network said in a statement on Monday.