Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against a newspaper in Iowa and a polling company responsible for publishing an incorrect prediction of his loss to Kamala Harris, accusing them of election interference.
According to the Associated Press, this move, widely reported by American media on Tuesday, is seen as the latest warning shot to media institutions and journalists about what might happen under a second Trump administration.
This step follows a surprising settlement by a major news organization, ABC News, over the weekend, agreeing to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit against anchor and host George Stephanopoulos.
In an interview with a Republican politician earlier this year, Stephanopoulos incorrectly referred to Trump's conviction for rape in a New York case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. In reality, Trump was found liable in a civil trial for "sexual assault." The court ruled that Trump owed Carroll $3.88 million in two lawsuits, which he has appealed.
The settlement by ABC has drawn sharp criticism from media professionals and others, with many believing that the network did not need to settle due to the strong protection of free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.