The Defamation Suits That Could Help Put an End to Trump’s Big Lie

[pecksniff]

From Slate.

Several of the main supporters of Trump’s Big Lie that the Democrats stole the 2020 election were forced to defend their claims under oath earlier this year. Their depositions were part of a defamation lawsuit brought by a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems whose life was completely upended after the defendants falsely claimed that he personally helped steal the election. Despite repeatedly spreading the Big Lie on talk shows and in press conferences, these Trump supporters were, for the most part, unwilling to be liars under oath.

Under penalty of perjury, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and several other supporters of the 2020 election conspiracy theory were finally forced to admit they can’t explain how the election was stolen. In lieu of specific facts and details, each offered new and embarrassing revelations about themselves and their patron, Trump. As a result, they could soon face millions of dollars in damages, as the judge weighs whether the defamation suit should proceed.

What’s clear from the depositions is this: Despite Trump and his allies’ powerful ability to delay, obstruct, and block Congressional investigators, courtrooms actually do work to create transparency and accountability. Of course, they only work when they are allowed to work. That is, courts serve their purpose when cases are allowed to proceed and when all of the basic mechanics of trial courts—sworn depositions, live testimony, discovery, and eventually jury verdicts—are allowed to happen instead of being stalled by appellate judges citing abstract and contentious legal theories (Running down the clock has been a core legal strategy of the Trump and his allies).

These lawsuits also show us something else: While forcing shameless liars to tell the truth under oath doesn’t necessarily affect their ability to spread lies in the future, it does severely limit the platform from which they spread their lies. Most media organizations fear the sort of civil liability suit Giuliani and others now face. And the lawsuits may ultimately result in crippling financial burdens that could cause others to think twice before pushing such damaging lies. Financial penalties may also force these specific liars into perpetually having to find a way to pay off the staggering debts. While it is no substitute for criminal liability, the Dominion employee lawsuit is just beginning to show the power of hitting people in their pocketbooks and forcing them to testify under oath.

Trump and his allies are facing an avalanche of lawsuits. Dominion filed separate defamation lawsuits against Fox News and others who lied and said their voting systems were rigged. A similar lawsuit was filed against Fox News by another voting company. Rep. Eric Swalwell filed suit against possible fomenters of the Jan. 6 insurrection. There is also another defamation lawsuit being brought by a former Apprentice contestant who alleged Trump sexually assaulted her (Trump is scheduled to be deposed soon for this suit). And there is yet another defamation suit by a woman who alleged that Trump raped her that was allowed to progress last month after years in a holding pattern. And finally, there is the long-delayed 2015 lawsuit by anti-Trump protesters who alleged that Trump security guards assaulted them.

 

[KeithD]

Unfortunately, the reality is that the Big Lie users know that they only have to put out the Big Lie material once and dummies will grab it and never accept it being debunked even if the original Big Liar recants. Just look at the crap the board Trumpettes here regurgitate over and over again even when it's patently false and/or has been debunked.

 

[pecksniff]

Unfortunately, the reality is that the Big Lie users know that they only have to put out the Big Lie material once and dummies will grab it and never accept it being debunked even if the original Big Liar recants. Just look at the crap the board Trumpettes here regurgitate over and over again even when it's patently false and/or has been debunked.

See PRATT.

 

[Deleted member 6873114]

From Slate.

The above post will not age well.

 

[Politruk]

The above post will not age well.

Trump's Big Lie remains exactly that. Biden won fair and square in 2020. And you know it.