OAN Tries To Distance Itself From MyPillow CEO’s Fraud Claims — But Will Air His Three-Hour Documentary
Topline
One America News aired a lengthy legal disclaimer Friday ahead of a documentary by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell that distanced the network from his false claims about election fraud, as media networks try to shield themselves against anticipated defamation lawsuits from Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic for spreading conspiracy theories involving their voting machines.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell waits outside the West Wing of the White House on January 15, 2021 in … [+]
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Key Facts
In a disclaimer before Lindell’s election fraud documentary Absolute Proof, OAN said the CEO is “solely and exclusively responsible” for the documentary’s content and that he paid to air it on the network.
OAN says it does not “adopt or endorse” the documentary’s claims, particularly about voting machine companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and elections official Gabriel Sterling.
Radio network WABC aired a similar disclaimer ahead of attorney Rudy Giuliani’s radio show Thursday after the former New York mayor faced his second defamation lawsuit, saying Giuliani and his guests’ opinions and views are “strictly their own and do not represent the opinions, beliefs or policies of WABC radio.”
Giuliani expressed disappointment with the disclaimer on his show, calling it “rather insulting” he was not warned about it ahead of time and saying it “gives you a sense of how far this free speech thing has gone,” and told viewers he was going to give the matter “a lot of consideration.”
Newsmax also cut off Lindell when he was trying to push claims about Dominion in an interview Tuesday, with an anchor talking over Lindell to read a statement about the claims being unverified and then walking off the set.
Lindell told Forbes in an email he was “grateful that OAN was open to offering air time to purchase for airing Absolute Proof” and suggested journalists should instead “watch the documentary and report on the content;” OAN and WABC have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Crucial Quote
“The statements and claims expressed in this program are presented at this time as opinions only and are not intended to be taken or interpreted by the viewer as actual facts,” OAN’s legal disclaimer said.
Chief Critic
A Dominion spokesperson said in a statement to Forbes that Lindell’s film is a “repackaging of lies which have been repeatedly debunked” and the company will continue to seek retribution for the allegedly defamatory statements in court. Dominion’s attorney Thomas Clare told legal outlet Law & Crime that the disclaimer on Lindell’s film would not help OAN avoid legal action from the voting company. “‘Nice try’ by OAN, but it definitely does not relieve them of liability,” Clare said, saying the company “warned them specifically” not to air the film and they decided to “broadcast it anyway.”
Key Background
Dominion and Smartmatic’s voting machines are at the heart of a far-right conspiracy theory alleging they flipped votes to fraudulently swing the election to President Joe Biden—a claim that is unsubstantiated by evidence and has been repeatedly rejected by the courts. Dominion has filed two $1.3 billion defamation lawsuits against Giuliani and attorney Sidney Powell for spreading the claims, and Smartmatic filed a $2.4 billion lawsuit Thursday against Giuliani, Powell, Fox News and several of its anchors. Dominion’s attorney Clare told reporters in a recent press call that the company is likely to target media networks for spreading the false claims about the company, and the company has sent OAN and Newsmax letters warning of potential future litigation. Clare also said the company will likely sue Lindell, a threat the CEO told Forbes he would “welcome.” Smartmatic’s attorney Erik Connolly also said in a statement Friday the company is “continuing to analyze our claims against OANN and Newsmax,” after it previously warned the networks of potential litigation. Before networks’ more recent moves this week to distance themselves from the conspiracy theory, Fox News and Newsmax had previously aired segments that walked back their comments about Smartmatic following that company’s legal threat.
Further Reading
Newsmax Anchor Cuts Off Mike Lindell As Network Braces For Lawsuit From Dominion (Forbes)
Fox News, Sidney Powell, Giuliani Face Billion-Dollar Defamation Lawsuits—Here’s Who Could Be Next (Forbes)
Voting Company Smartmatic Sues Fox News, Giuliani, Sidney Powell For Defamation (Forbes)
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