Retired lieutenant colonel Alexander Vindman, who testified at former President Trump’s first impeachment trial, said he “should have prosecuted those who expanded his smear campaign.”
Driving the news: In an opinion piece for Lawfare, entitled “Can litigation help to de-radicalize the right-wing media?”, Vindman wrote: “After testifying about the improper conduct of then President Trump in Ukraine before the House impeachment investigation, Trump and his allies targeted me and my family for retribution. “
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He said that “Trump’s proxies have broadened these themes in the news on television, the internet and social media, resulting in risks to my life and reputation as a public servant, and that he” has not responded strongly to threats and defamation. “
Of importance: Some First Amendment advocates fear that defamation suits could be used as a means to silence the press. And Vindman notes in his article that the First Amendment “severely limits the tools available to seek accountability from the right-wing media.”
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“However, there are ways to dismantle the right-wing disinformation ecosystem, an ecosystem that does not start with insurrection, but with more mundane lies,” he added.
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“Like many political elites who drive the insurrection to promote their political goals, the right-wing media is also motivated by a financial calculation: viewers, market share and advertising funds.”
Our thought bubble, via Sara Fischer: Axios defamation lawsuits and threats against Fox and other conservative personalities and networks have so far proved effective in combating electoral fraud.
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