Trump legal threat against CNN stops short of arguing that his election-fraud claims are true, says only that he ‘subjectively believes’ them
In their legal threat against CNN, former President Donald Trump’s lawyers stopped short of saying his election-fraud claims were true, saying instead that the former president “subjectively believes” them.
In a 282-page document submitted to CNN last week, Trump’s legal team said it would sue the network unless it issued a correction, apology, or retraction on stories about Trump, including ones where it dismissed his claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Trump said on Wednesday that he had contacted CNN to say he intends to sue.
In their document, the lawyers said that CNN repeatedly said Trump was “lying” but that Trump could not be lying as he “subjectively believes” his loss was due to voter fraud.
“In this instance, President Trump’s comments are not lies: He subjectively believes that the results of the 2020 presidential election turned on fraudulent voting activity in several key states,” the lawyers wrote.
They said that CNN started accusing Trump of lying before audits and recounts took place in states where Trump alleged there was fraud.
They also used a dictionary definition to argue that Trump could not be lying.
“Webster’s Dictionary defines a ‘lie’ as an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive,” they said.
www.businessinsider.com/trump-lawyers-stop-short-arguing-election-fraud-claims-true-2022-7
From the court filing saying that Trump is not lying about election fraud because he believes there was election fraud even though there’s no evidence to objectively confirm his belief.
He subjectively believes that the results of the 2020 presidential election turned on fraudulent voting activity in several key states.
President Trump harbors a subjective belief that he was unfairly deprived of a second term in office.
AC