Donald Trump sues Iowa newspaper, accusing it of “brazen election interference” and fraud.
Remember her completely unrealistic poll saying Kamala would win? She’s about to regret it.
At a Glance
- Trump files lawsuit against Des Moines Register, pollster Ann Selzer, and Gannett
- Suit claims manipulation of poll data to favor Kamala Harris before 2020 election
- Trump won Iowa by 13 points despite poll predicting Harris victory
- Legal action follows $15 million settlement with ABC News over defamation
- Trump threatens further legal action against media entities accused of bias
Trump Takes Legal Action Against Iowa Media
Former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register, political analyst Ann Selzer, and Gannett – and the implications could dramatically change the way we fight elections in 2028. The suit, filed in Polk County, Iowa, under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act, alleges “brazen election interference” and fraud in relation to polling data published before the 2020 election.
The crux of Trump’s complaint revolves around a poll conducted by Selzer, which predicted a win for Kamala Harris in Iowa just days before the election. Trump’s legal team argues that this prediction was not only incorrect but intentionally manipulated to create a false narrative of Harris leading in the state. The lawsuit contends that such manipulation deceives voters and affects campaign strategies, potentially interfering with the electoral process.
The poll was completely inaccurate and everyone knew it even at the time.
Allegations of Poll Manipulation and Media Bias
Trump’s legal filing claims that the defendants engaged in a “corrupt practice” with significant potential to mislead voters. This action fits into a broader pattern of Trump’s confrontations with media outlets he perceives as biased against him – a pattern that more and more Americans are noticing every day.
“Contrary to reality and defying credulity, defendants’ Harris Poll was published three days before Election Day and purported to show Harris leading President Trump in Iowa by three points; President Trump ultimately won Iowa by over thirteen points,” the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit argues that Selzer’s prominent position in the polling industry gave her a “significant and impactful opportunity to deceive voters.”
Duh.
Selzer’s Response and Implications for Media Freedom
Ann Selzer, the pollster at the center of this controversy, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. In an interview, she expressed confusion over the allegations of election interference, stating that such actions go against her professional ethics. Selzer’s response highlights the tension between political accusations and the integrity of polling methodologies.
“I don’t understand it. And the allegations I take very seriously. They’re saying that this was election interference, which is a crime … The idea that I intentionally set up to deliver this response, when I’ve never done that before … I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do it. It’s not my ethic,” Seltzer said.
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident in Trump’s legal strategy against corrupt media entities. It follows a significant $15 million settlement with ABC News and George Stephanopoulos over a defamation lawsuit. Trump has publicly stated his intention to pursue further legal actions against media outlets he accuses of bias, framing these efforts as a necessary obligation rather than a personal vendetta.
Trump won that one and he could well win this one, too.
And he’s not just doing it out of spite, either. Trump says that he’s doing it to protect our electoral system, and that he feels as though he has to do it.
“I’m not doing this because I want to, I’m doing this because I feel I have an obligation to,” Trump said.
We’ll keep you updated on the case!
