Sister-in-law of Mike Flynn sues CNN for $100 million over report identifying them as QAnon believers



The sister-in-law of former national security advisor Mike Flynn has filed a $100 million lawsuit against CNN over a report that pegged them as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory.

Valerie Flynn accuses the Cable News Network of deceptively editing videos to make it appear that she was pledging allegiance to a conspiracy group.

"CNN abandoned all journalistic standards and integrity, including CNN’s own standards and code of ethics, in writing, editing, and publishing the false narrative," the lawsuit alleges. "CNN did not seek the truth or report it. It betrayed the truth to sensationalize the news for self-glory, profit and politics."

The lawsuit says Valerie Flynn is not a supporter of QAnon, which is characterized as a "violent, extremist group." It further alleges that the report exposed her to "public scorn, ridicule and contempt, and lowered her esteem in the community, causing insult, embarrassment, humiliation and substantial injury to her reputation."

She is seeking $25 million in compensatory damages and $75 million in punitive damages from CNN.

CNN is also being sued by Flynn's other relatives for $75 million over the same claims made in the news report.

Part of CNN's claims involve the use of the phrase "Where we go one, we go all," which is used by members of QAnon to identify each other. The Flynns say that Michael Flynn's use of the phrase had nothing to do with the conspiracy group.

“According to some, the phrase ‘where we go one, we go all’ was first engraved on a bell on one of President John F. Kennedy’s sailboats, acknowledging the unity of mankind,” read a footnote in the family's lawsuit.

That lawsuit is ongoing.

"Enough is enough with CNN, and the lies about our family," said Leslie Flynn in a statement about their lawsuit. "We cannot sit by any longer and allow CNN to disparage our good name. This has got to stop."

Chris Cuomo gears up to sue CNN for more than $18 million: Report



Ex-CNN anchor Chris Cuomo is reportedly preparing to file a lawsuit against CNN if the network refuses to pay him at least $18 million to cover the remainder of his contract at $6 million per year.

The report comes as Cuomo revealed that he will no longer be on SiriusXM radio hosting "Let's Get After It with Chris Cuomo."

What are the details?

The 51-year-old disgraced anchor — who was fired after his efforts to fluff the reputation of his brother, ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), by attempting to quash reporting on allegations against him of sexual harassment — has hired attorneys and is reportedly preparing to file the suit if he doesn't receive the pay for the remaining three years on his four-year contract.

According to a report from the New York Post, sources familiar with the matter state that his contract was reportedly worth $6 million per year, leaving between $18 and $20 million on the table after his departure.

Cuomo is also reportedly likely to seek damages if he files the suit.

A source told the outlet, however, that the network has "no intention of paying [Chris] Cuomo a penny."

"If he gets a settlement, there would be uproar," the source added

A second source told the outlet that the company "has a standard morality clause in their contract that says if the employee does anything of disrepute, they can be immediately fired."

Much like his brother, Cuomo is facing sexual misconduct allegations of his own: A former colleague who wished to remain anonymous hired an attorney and came forward earlier this week, saying that Cuomo reportedly engaged in sexual misconduct with her.

"Hearing the hypocrisy of Chris Cuomo's on-air words and disgusted by his efforts to try to discredit these women, my client retained counsel to report his serious sexual misconduct against her to CNN," attorney Debra Katz said in a statement on the allegation.

Cuomo has stated that the allegations have no merit.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for the ex-anchor told the Wall Street Journal that CNN President Jeff Zucker knew all about Cuomo's support for his brother.

"There were no secrets about this, as other individuals besides Mr. Cuomo can attest," the spokesperson said.

CNN in a statement called the allegation "patently false."

“This reinforces why he was terminated for violating our standards and practices, as well as his lack of candor,” the network added.

Both CNN and a spokesperson for Cuomo declined to comment on the report.

Anything else?

Cuomo on Monday announced that he would no longer be appearing on his SiriusXM show.

In a message shared on Twitter, Cuomo wrote, "The way my time ended at CNN was hard. While I have a thick skin, I also have a family, for whom the past week has been extraordinarily difficult. So, right now, I have to take a step back and focus on what comes next. That means I will no longer be doing my SiriusXM radio show. I am extremely grateful for the support I have received from SiriusXM throughout my time there. I also want to express my sincere appreciation for my loyal listeners. I will miss our conversations a great deal — but I look forward to being back in touch with you all in the future."

pic.twitter.com/mACJo3SqID
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@Christopher C. Cuomo) 1638821261

SiriusXM in a statement announced, "Following Chris Cuomo’s statement that he is leaving his SiriusXM show, 'Let’s Get After It' will no longer air. We thank Chris for his work at SiriusXM."

Judge allows Alan Dershowitz's $300 million lawsuit against CNN to proceed: 'I think CNN is quaking in its boots!'



Famed civil liberties attorney Alan Dershowitz won a procedural victory in court that will allow his $300 million lawsuit against CNN to proceed to depositions.

Attorneys for CNN filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in November but a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida did not agree with their argument and said Dershowitz can proceed.

The lawsuit claims that CNN unfairly edited comments from Dershowitz about whether former President Donald Trump could have been impeached if he committed an illegal act that he believed was in the public interest.

Dershowitz says in the lawsuit that CNN repeated that clip over and over in order to make him appear as if he "had lost his mind."

Following the airing of that clip over and over again, the hosts, together with their panel guests, including CNN employees and paid commentators, exploded into a one-sided and false narrative that Professor Dershowitz believes and argued that as long as the President believes his reelection is in the public interest, that he could do anything at all – including illegal acts – and be immune from impeachment. The very notion of that was preposterous and foolish on its face, and that was the point: to falsely paint Professor Dershowitz as a constitutional scholar and intellectual who had lost his mind.

CNN's attorneys argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed based on the fair reporting privilege of the press.

Dershowitz appeared on Newsmax to explain that the fair reporting privilege didn't extend to CNN's actions exactly because they unfairly misrepresented what he said.

"They took out the words 'lawful and illegal' in order, deliberately, to convey the impression that I thought the president could engage in illegal and unlawful conduct and still not be impeached, exactly the opposite of what I said," said Dershowitz.

In an email to Law & Crime, Dershowitz said he was looking forward to "deposing the commentators and heads of CNN and of the truth coming out."

Here's the interview with Dershowitz about the lawsuit:

Dershowitz' CNN lawsuit will advance: I will depose Jeff Zuckerwww.youtube.com

Michael Flynn's relatives sue CNN for $75 million over QAnon allegations



The brother and sister-in-law of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn are suing CNN for $75 million over a report that the couple were believers of the QAnon conspiracy theory.

John "Jack" Flynn, brother of retired Gen. Michael Flynn, and his wife Leslie filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The Flynns allege that the cable network falsely accused them of being supporters of the QAnon movement.

John and Leslie Flynn claim that a CNN segment dedicated to exposing the QAnon movement featured footage of the couple at a Fourth of July barbecue in Rhode Island. Video shows the couple joining Michael Flynn and the group saying, "Where we go one, we go all." The phrase has been a rallying cry of QAnon, but the Flynns contend that it has nothing to do with the conspiracy theory group.

"The lawsuit disputes that the 'WWG1WGA' slogan, which is routinely used on QAnon merchandise and by adherents on social media and at rallies, is linked to the conspiracy theory," Newsweek reports. "Flynn's phrase, it said, was inspired by an inscription 'engraved on a bell on one of President John F. Kennedy's sailboats, acknowledging the unity of mankind.'"

The Flynns claim that CNN selectively edited the video clip that originally aired on Feb. 4, and did not include the moment directly after when the family exclaimed, "God Bless America." The lawsuit alleges that the CNN clip was "fraudulently making it appear and insinuating that [Jack and Leslie] pledged an oath of allegiance to QAnon."

CNN goes inside a gathering of QAnon followers. https://t.co/u7ZT0pokSo https://t.co/C7fK6SPpWb
— CNN Newsroom (@CNN Newsroom)1612560043.0

"Plaintiffs are not followers or supporters of any extremist or terrorist groups, including QAnon," the lawsuit states, according to The Hill. "CNN falsely attributed to Plaintiffs associations that never existed, actions Plaintiffs never took, including an oath of allegiance to QAnon, and views Plaintiffs never held."

"CNN's false attributions exposed Plaintiffs to public scorn, ridicule and contempt, and lowered their esteem in the community, causing insult, embarrassment, humiliation and substantial injury to Plaintiffs' reputations," the suit stated.

"CNN falsely accused Plaintiffs of being 'followers' and supporters of the 'dangerous,' 'violent,' 'racist,' 'extremist,' 'insurrectionist,' 'domestic terrorism movement – QAnon," the suit alleged, according to Just The News.

The lawsuit alleges that after "the January 6 storming of the Capitol, a chorus of left-wing media outlets began to spread false narratives about QAnon, including that Jack Flynn's brother, retired Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn ('General Flynn'), was the 'founder' of QAnon."

The Flynns' lawyer, Steven S. Biss, accused CNN of being "a Democratic Party trumpet that foreswore its role as an impartial reporter of facts and joined with political partisans in an overall plan or scheme to discredit the character of the Flynns. For that, it must be held accountable by a jury."

Leslie Flynn released a statement that said, "Enough is enough with CNN, and the lies about our family. We cannot sit by any longer and allow CNN to disparage our good name. This has got to stop."

The lawsuit claims that the CNN segment has caused the Flynns to suffer from "public scorn, ridicule and contempt, and lowered their esteem in the community, causing insult, embarrassment, humiliation and substantial injury to Plaintiffs' reputations."

When asked about the lawsuit, a CNN spokesperson told The Hill, "As a policy we don't comment on litigation."