Former Playboy model Karen McDougal sues Fox News for alleged defamation

By Oliver Darcy, CNN Business

Updated 2:17 PM ET, Thu December 5, 2019

Karen McDougal: Preschool teacher turned Playboy model

FILE- In this Aug. 16, 2017 file photo, James Bennet, editorial page editor of The New York Times, leaves federal court in New York after by a lawyer for Sarah Palin, who's suing over an editorial that linked right-wing political rhetoric to the 2011 shooting of former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, a federal judge tossed Palin's defamation against the publication, saying the former Alaska governor failed to show the newspaper knew it was publishing false statements in an editorial before quickly correcting them. (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister, File) NYT editorial editor resigns after running Sen. Tom Cotton's op-ed

Trump pushes conspiracy theory about MSNBC host MIAMI BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Karen McDougal attends Playboy's Super Saturday Night Party at Sagamore Hotel on February 6, 2010 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Playboy)NOW PLAYING Karen McDougal: Preschool teacher turned Playboy model

Tucker Carlson suggests senator who served in Iraq 'hates America' Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump from Simon & Schuster Mary Trump book to be published early due to high demand Fox News Chief National Correspondent Ed Henry, left, describes his surgery to co-hosts Steve Doocy, second left, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade on the "Fox & friends" television program, in New York Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Henry retuned after donating 30-percent of his liver to his ailing sister. Fox News anchor Ed Henry fired over sexual misconduct allegation President Reagan broadcast on the American propagandist radio Voice of America, behind the Iron Curtain. Why reporters at Voice of America are worried it may turn into 'Voice of Trump' US President Donald Trump waves as he steps off Air Force One at Tulsa International Airport on his way to his campaign rally at the BOK Center on June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. - Hundreds of supporters lined up early for Donald Trump's first political rally in months, saying the risk of contracting COVID-19 in a big, packed arena would not keep them from hearing the president's campaign message. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

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Dad of child in manipulated Trump video: It was propaganda National Security Advisor John Bolton (R) listens to U.S. President Donald Trump talk to reporters during a meeting of his cabinet in the Cabinet Room at the White House February 12, 2019 in Washington, DC.

FILE- In this Aug. 16, 2017 file photo, James Bennet, editorial page editor of The New York Times, leaves federal court in New York after by a lawyer for Sarah Palin, who's suing over an editorial that linked right-wing political rhetoric to the 2011 shooting of former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, a federal judge tossed Palin's defamation against the publication, saying the former Alaska governor failed to show the newspaper knew it was publishing false statements in an editorial before quickly correcting them. (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister, File)

MIAMI BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Karen McDougal attends Playboy's Super Saturday Night Party at Sagamore Hotel on February 6, 2010 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Playboy)

Karen McDougal: Preschool teacher turned Playboy model

Tucker Carlson suggests senator who served in Iraq 'hates America' Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump from Simon & Schuster Mary Trump book to be published early due to high demand Fox News Chief National Correspondent Ed Henry, left, describes his surgery to co-hosts Steve Doocy, second left, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade on the "Fox & friends" television program, in New York Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Henry retuned after donating 30-percent of his liver to his ailing sister.

Fox News anchor Ed Henry fired over sexual misconduct allegation President Reagan broadcast on the American propagandist radio Voice of America, behind the Iron Curtain.

Why reporters at Voice of America are worried it may turn into 'Voice of Trump'S President Donald Trump waves as he steps off Air Force One at Tulsa International Airport on his way to his campaign rally at the BOK Center on June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. - Hundreds of supporters lined up early for Donald Trump's first political rally in months, saying the risk of contracting COVID-19 in a big, packed arena would not keep them from hearing the president's campaign message. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

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Dad of child in manipulated Trump video: It was propaganda National Security Advisor John Bolton (R) listens to U.S. President Donald Trump talk to reporters during a meeting of his cabinet in the Cabinet Room at the White House February 12, 2019 in Washington, DC. Stelter explains why Trump is 'clearly rattled' by Bolton's new book New York (CNN Business)Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Donald Trump before he was elected President, filed a lawsuit Thursday against Fox News alleging the news organization defamed her.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in a New York state court, McDougal accused host Tucker Carlson of acting with a "reckless disregard for the truth" when he suggested on a December 2018 episode of his show that she extorted Trump.

In a statement provided by a Fox News spokesperson, the network said it would "vigorously defend Tucker Carlson against these meritless claims."

McDougal was paid $150,000 by American Media Inc., the National Enquirer's parent company, for her story of an alleged affair with Trump. Her lawsuit stated that in 2016 she attempted to sell her story to the publication, and that the tabloid eventually purchased it "to prevent its publication."

The practice of purchasing a story to prevent its ultimate release is commonly referred to as "catch and kill." Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, testified before Congress that he participated in "several" instances in which the tactic was used to protect Trump's image.

arlson, however, said on his show that it was an "undisputed" fact that two women "approached Donald Trump and threatened to ruin his career and humiliate his family" if he didn't provide them money. Carlson said it sounded "like a classic case of extortion," and later referred to them as "extortion payments."

Carlson did not name McDougal, but an image of her was later shown on the screen. The other woman showed on the screen was Stephanie Clifford, the adult actress who goes by the name Stormy Daniels and was also paid by the National Enquirer's parent company for her story about an alleged affair with Trump.

McDougal's lawsuit said Carlson's statements were "completely untrue" and accused Carlson of having made them "knowing it was untrue."

"McDougal never approached Trump and threatened to ruin his career or humiliate his family if he did not give her money," McDougal's lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit added, "Had Carlson done any investigation or responsible reporting or journalism, he would have easily discovered that what he and Fox News published about McDougal was and is demonstrably false."

McDougal's lawsuit argued that Fox News defamed her by branding her as a "criminal who extorted Trump for money."

"Fox News' publication was grossly irresponsible, made with reckless disregard for the truth and actual malice," the lawsuit stated. The lawsuit demanded "punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial."

Poster Comment:

I could not find out the disposition of this suit.