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☆ US-Russia collaboration has long endured in space. The Ukraine war could ruin it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Tom Porter | Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The International Space Station has long been a symbol of international cooperation. AdvertisementSince the end of the Cold War, the International Space Station (ISS) has been a symbol of international cooperation. By 1988, 15 nations had agreed to participate in the project, then known as Space Station Freedom. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe Soviets had long-standing expertise in aerospace technology, having launched the world's first space station, "Salyut," in 1971. China has completed several unmanned Moon landings, has its own space station, and has developed a sophisticated commercial and military satellite program.

Persons: —, Peggy Whitson, Vladimir Putin, Jill Stuart, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Terry Virts, Anton Shkaplerov, Marco Tacca, Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev, Sergey Korsakov, Virts, Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, Alexander Grebenkin, Jeanette Epps, Stuart, Verts, Musk Organizations: Astronauts, Service, Space, Veteran, ISS, Imperial College London, Politics, NASA, European Space Agency, ESA, Inter, Soyuz, Keystone, Hulton, Roscosmos, Reuters, Anadolu, Getty, Imperial College, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Elon Musk's SpaceX, The Independent, CNBC Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe, China, Japan, loggerheads, Hollywood, Canada, Soviet Union, Milan, Italy, Luhansk, Luhansk People's Republic, Russian, Baikonur, Kazakhstan, The, Soviet Russia

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts to the International Space Station blasted off Saturday, two days after its launch was aborted at the last minute. The spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, Russian Oleg Novitsky and Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus launched smoothly from the Russian-leased Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan. The head of the Russian space agency, Yuri Borisov, said the launch abort was triggered by a voltage drop in a power source. The space capsule atop the rocket separated and went into orbit eight minutes after the launch and began a two-day, 34-orbit trip to the space station. Russia has continued to rely on modified versions of Soviet-designed rockets for commercial satellites, as well as crews and cargo to the space station.

Persons: Tracy Dyson, Russian Oleg Novitsky, Marina Vasilevskaya, Yuri Borisov, Loral O’Hara, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps, Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai, Alexander Grebenkin, O'Hara Organizations: MOSCOW, Russian Soyuz, International Space, NASA Locations: Russian, Belarus, Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine

The SpaceX logo is shown on a Falcon 9 rocket as it is prepared for launch to carry NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., March 2, 2024. The National Labor Relations Board accused SpaceX in a new complaint of entering into unlawful severance agreements with terminated employees nationwide. The unfair labor practices complaint comes two months after SpaceX filed a federal lawsuit challenging the legality of the NLRB's oversight authority, and after the federal agency in a separate complaint accused the company of illegally firing eight workers who had criticized its CEO Elon Musk in an open letter. The new NLRB complaint claims that SpaceX included unlawful confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses in severance agreements and that it unlawfully limited the terminated workers' ability to participate in other claims against the company. It also alleges that the rocket maker and satellite internet company maintained an unlawful rule that required workers — as a condition of their employment — to sign an agreement for arbitration and dispute resolution, and to waive their right to receive money in class-action lawsuits against the company.

Persons: Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, Alexander Grebenkin, SpaceX, Elon Musk Organizations: SpaceX, International, Kennedy Space Center, National Labor Relations Board, Company Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida, U.S

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts headed to the International Space Station on Sunday where they will oversee the arrivals of two new rocketships during their half-year stint. SpaceX’s Falcon rocket blasted off from Kennedy Space Center, carrying NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps and Russia’s Alexander Grebenkin. “When are you getting here already?” space station commander Andreas Mogensen asked via X, formerly Twitter, after three days of delay due to high wind. Epps should have launched to the space station on a Russian rocket in 2018, but was replaced for reasons never publicly disclosed. Flight controllers are monitoring a growing cabin leak on Russia’s side of the space station.

Persons: Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, Russia’s Alexander Grebenkin, “, Andreas Mogensen, Epps, Billy Joel, Dominick, Barratt, ” Barratt, Joel Montalbano Organizations: International, Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX, NASA, Sierra, Ford Motor Co, CIA, Navy, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, U.S, Denmark, Japan, Russia, New York, Syracuse, N.Y, Russian

☆ Beefs Are All the Rage in Comedy. As Mike Epps Knows, They’re Nothing New.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Jason Zinoman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mike Epps may be the only stand-up comic alive who’s upset that Katt Williams didn’t insult him. In a now notorious, wildly viral three-hour interview with Shannon Sharpe (59 million views and counting) last month, the comic Katt Williams fired salvos at a festival’s worth of comics including Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer. Epps, unmentioned by Williams, said he was jealous. Hailing from Indianapolis, Epps is quick to tell you that he dropped out of high school and spent time in jail. “When I be doing coke,” he says, then slightly stammers and starts again: “When I used to do coke.” Then his eyebrows dance.

Persons: Mike Epps, Katt Williams, Shannon Sharpe, salvos, Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, Cedric, Epps, unmentioned, Williams, ”, “ Organizations: Netflix Locations: Arizona, ”, Indianapolis

☆ How SVB is helping clients sell wine, diamond jewelry, and wearable tech this holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But despite SVB Private's elite clientele, the holiday gift guide isn't intended to make headlines for boasting extravagant items like the Neiman Marcus luxury wish list. Instead, the list highlights SVB clients, which is organized by vendor rather than category and includes quotes from each founder. SVB Private's gift guide includes Flanagan Wines, owned by client Eric Flanagan, pictured with his wife, Kit. During the pandemic, Gregory's 400-plus winery clients were struggling with restaurants closed and wine tastings off-limits. Flanagan has sold wine through SVB's monthly specials and appreciated getting brand awareness with SVB's rich tech clients.

Persons: SVB, Marcus, Eric Flanagan, Flanagan, They're, Greg Gregory, SVB's, Gregory, Jes Wolfe, Rebel, Jeanette Epps, Aileen Lee, Milo, Peter Celinski, Celinski, They've, I'd, I've Organizations: Bank, SVB, Business, First Citizens Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, Valley Bank Locations: Tahoe, Silicon, That's, Milo

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — An acquaintance has been charged in the death of a Philadelphia journalist who went from sleeping on the street to working for the mayor to writing urgent columns on the city’s most pressing social issues. Robert Edmond Davis, 19, faces murder, weapons counts and related charges in the death of Josh Kruger, 39, who was shot and killed at his Philadelphia home Oct. 2. Kruger was shot seven times at about 1:30 a.m. and collapsed in the street after seeking help, police said. Kruger handled social media for the mayor and communications for the Office of Homeless Services from about 2016 to 2021. He wrote at various times for Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia City Paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications, earning awards for his poignant and often humorous style.

Persons: Robert Edmond Davis, Josh Kruger, Davis, Damica Davis, Kruger, there’s, “, ”, University’s, JoAnne Epps, bicyclist Organizations: PHILADELPHIA, Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, Authorities, Philadelphia Inquirer, City Hall, The Philadelphia Citizen, Council, of Homeless Services, Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia City, Elon Twitter Locations: Philadelphia, America, Rittenhouse

Ray Epps, the Trump supporter who was swept up in one of the most persistent right-wing conspiracy theories connected to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a single misdemeanor charge for his role in the attack on the Capitol. Prosecutors said at the hearing that aside from breaching the barricades outside the Capitol, Mr. Epps placed his hands on a giant Trump sign that the mob used as a battering ram against the police. Mr. Epps will face a maximum of one year in prison when he is sentenced in December. Mr. Epps, a former Marine and wedding venue owner who voted twice for Donald J. Trump, became the unlikely focus of a conspiracy theory promoted on Fox News and by right-wing commentators. It held that he had been a covert government asset who helped instigate the riot as a way of discrediting Trump supporters.

Persons: Ray Epps, Trump, Epps, Donald J Organizations: Capitol, Federal, Court, Justice Department, Prosecutors, Trump, Mr, Fox News Locations: Washington

☆ Acting president of Temple University in Philadelphia dies unexpectedly at 72
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 19 (Reuters) - The acting president of Temple University in Philadelphia, JoAnne Epps, fell ill on Tuesday while attending a memorial service on campus and died a short time later, the school said in a statement. Epps appeared to have "suffered a sudden episode" and was "promptly attended to by emergency medical" personnel at the scene, Dr. Daniel del Portal, chief clinical officer for the Temple University Health System, told an afternoon news conference. She was then taken to Temple Hospital, "where resuscitation efforts continued but were unfortunately unsuccessful," del Portal said. "Temple has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember," Epps said in a statement when she was appointed acting president in April. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: JoAnne Epps, Epps, Charles Blockson, Daniel del, Jason Wingard, Steve Gorman, Kanishka Singh, Michael Perry Organizations: Temple University, Local, Temple University Health System, Temple Hospital, university's, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington

☆ Trump protester turned conspiracy target Ray Epps pleads guilty to Jan. 6 disorderly conduct
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ray Epps, in the red Trump hat, center, gestures to a line of law enforcement officers, as people gather on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 2021. Ray Epps, who was targeted by right-wing conspiracy theorists after he protested then-President Donald Trump's 2020 election loss, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge related to his actions on the day of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Epps did not enter the U.S. Capitol that day, but he was on restricted grounds outside the building during the riot, prosecutors noted. The terms of Epps' plea agreement allow the government to access his social media accounts from around the time of the Capitol riot, NBC reported. Epps, a former member of the right-wing Oath Keepers group, had traveled to Washington, D.C., to protest the 2020 election results.

Persons: Ray Epps, Donald Trump's, Epps, Joe Biden's, James Boasberg Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Trump, U.S . Capitol, District, NBC News, NBC, FBI Locations: Washington ,

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ray Epps, a onetime Donald Trump supporter who was the target of a right-wing conspiracy theory about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack that forced him into hiding, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot. After the riot, he became the focus of a conspiracy theory — echoed by right-wing news outlets — that he was a secret government agent who incited the Capitol attack. Epps said he heard from a relative shortly after he returned home from Washington that his picture was on an FBI website. Soon after, Epps contacted the FBI to provide his information and his attorney told investigators he wanted to cooperate with the investigation. Roughly 670 people have pleaded guilty, and of those 480 pleaded to misdemeanor charges, according to an Associated Press analysis of court records.

Persons: — Ray Epps, Donald Trump, Epps, Fox News —, Democrat Joe Biden, ”, “, ” Epps, Tucker Carlson's, ” “, Carlson, Christopher Wray, I’ve, Stewart Rhodes, Rhodes, Alanna Durkin Richer, Lindsay Whitehurst Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Capitol, Marine, Fox News Channel, Fox News, Republican, Democrat, FBI, CBS, ” Fox News, Associated Press, U.S . Marine Corps, United States Marine Corps, U.S . House Committee, Trump, Biden, Associated Locations: Arizona, Washington, Mesa , Arizona, Rocky

☆ Ray Epps, Target of Jan. 6 Conspiracy Theory, Charged in Capitol Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Alan Feuer | More About Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ray Epps, the man at the center of a right-wing conspiracy theory that the federal government instigated the events of Jan. 6, 2021, was charged on Tuesday with a single count of disorderly conduct for his role in the attack on the Capitol. In a bare-bones charging document filed in Federal District Court in Washington, prosecutors accused Mr. Epps of disrupting the orderly conduct of government business by entering a restricted area on the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. Mr. Epps’s lawyer, Edward J. Ungvarsky, said the case had been brought in “anticipation of entry of a guilty plea.”The saga of Mr. Epps, a former Marine and wedding venue owner who voted twice for Donald J. Trump, is one of the stranger stories to have emerged from the Capitol attack. The conspiracy theory was widely promoted by the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and was later echoed by several prominent Republican politicians. Mr. Epps, who sold his home and business in Arizona and has since gone into hiding with his wife in a trailer park in Utah, sued Fox News in July, accusing the network of defamation.

Persons: Ray Epps, Mr, Epps, Epps’s, Edward J, Ungvarsky, Donald J, Trump, Tucker Carlson Organizations: Court, Capitol, Fox News, Republican Locations: Washington, Arizona, Utah

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ray Epps, a former Marine who became the target of a Jan. 6, 2021, conspiracy theory, has been charged with a misdemeanor offense in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot and is expected to plead guilty, according to court papers filed Tuesday. Epps' attorney, Edward J. Ungvarsky, said in an email that the case was filed with an anticipation that Epps would plead guilty to the charge. Although Epps' lawsuit mentions Fox’s Laura Ingraham and Will Cain, former Fox host Tucker Carlson is cited as the leader in promoting the theory. “The only time I’ve been involved with the government was when I was a Marine in the United States Marine Corps,” Epps said. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and other members were convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack.

Persons: — Ray Epps, Epps, Edward J, Ungvarsky, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Fox, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, ” Epps, ” “, Fox’s Laura Ingraham, Will Cain, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, “ Epps, “, I’ve, Stewart Rhodes, grandad, ___ Richer, David Bauder Organizations: WASHINGTON, Marine, U.S, Capitol, Fox News Channel, Trump, FBI, CBS, Fox, Fox News, Justice Department, U.S . Marine Corps, United States Marine Corps, Associated, Associated Press Locations: Washington, Mesa , Arizona, Rocky, Arizona, Boston, New York

☆ Pro-Trump protester Ray Epps set to plead guilty to Jan. 6 disorderly conduct charge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ray Epps, in the red Trump hat, center, gestures to others as people gather on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 2021. Ray Epps , the pro-Trump protester at the center of right-wing conspiracy theories about the government orchestrating the Capitol riot, plans to plead guilty Wednesday to a disorderly conduct charge related to his presence there, his attorney said. Epps, who is a former member of the right-wing Oath Keepers group, traveled to Washington, D.C., to protest the 2020 election results. In Monday's filing in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Epps was charged with one count of knowingly engaging in "disorderly and disruptive conduct" with the "intent to impede and disrupt" the government's activity taking place Jan. 6. Epps' conduct "did in fact impede and disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business and official functions," U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves wrote in the two-page information.

Persons: Ray Epps, Epps, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Edward Ungvarsky, Mike Pence, Trump, James Boasberg, Tucker Carlson, Matthew Graves Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Electoral, NBC News, Trump, FBI, U.S . Department of Justice, Fox News, Government Locations: Washington ,, Washington

Fox, which has maintained it is proud of its dishonest 2020 election coverage, still faces an even larger, $2.7 billion lawsuit from election technology company Smartmatic. That is the crux of our lawsuit, and we look forward to making our case in court.”A spokesperson for Fox Corporation declined to comment on the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the New York City Comptroller’s office said the pension funds held 857,000 shares of Fox Corporation stock valued at $28.10 million. Fox Corporation, led by Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, has kept the current Fox News leadership team that oversaw the network’s lie-filled 2020 coverage in place. Earlier this year, Fox News settled a defamation case with a Venezuelan businessman who had filed a lawsuit against the company over its 2020 election coverage.

Persons: “, Brad Lander, ” Ellen Rosenblum, ”, Rupert, Lachlan Murdoch, Viet Dinh, Ray Epps, Fox, Abby Grossberg Organizations: CNN, Fox Corporation, Fox News, Fox, Voting, New, Dominion, FBI Locations: York, Oregon, Delaware, New York City, Viet, Arizona, Venezuelan

☆ Fox argues its conspiracy-tinged Jan. 6 coverage is protected by the First Amendment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The pushback came in a defamation suit that Epps filed against the right-wing network. He claims Fox figures, including ex-host Tucker Carlson, destroyed his reputation by repeatedly raising the baseless idea that he led a false-flag plot to hurt Donald Trump. “Tucker Carlson (and/or his guests) described the known (and undisputed) facts” about Epps, Fox said in the filing. But this ignores the fact that a previous defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems demonstrated that several Fox hosts operated in bad faith, raising claims on-air that they didn’t actually believe. Fox News paid $787 million to settle with Dominion earlier this year and is still facing a $2.7 billion lawsuit from Smartmatic, another voting technology company.

Persons: CNN —, “, Ray Epps, Epps, Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump, “ Tucker Carlson, Fox, ” Organizations: CNN, CNN — Fox News, Fox, Trump, Dominion Voting Systems, Fox News, Dominion Locations: Epps, Delaware, Smartmatic

☆ What Mike Epps Learned From ‘Sanford and Son’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Chris Kornelis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

When you’re a Black man and you see a Black movie like that that is macho, you know, you want to be a part of it in some capacity. When people see me riding it, they look at me like I’m crazy and say: “What the hell you doing? Killer Mike is one of those guys that has been blessed to have that voice for our people. 9Treasure HuntingWhen I’m out on the road telling jokes, the first thing I want to hit is a vintage store. I want to hit the vintage clothing store, and I want to hit the antique furniture store.

Persons: ’, “, ”, Michael B, Jordan, you’re, Denzel Washington, Jackson, Mike It’s, Mike Organizations: Denzel, Detroit Locations: Miami, America, Detroit

☆ Giuliani Concedes He Made False Statements About Georgia Election Workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Alan Feuer | More About Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The two women had originally sued other defendants, including the One America News Network and some of its top officials, but ultimately settled the case against everyone except Mr. Giuliani. It was one of a series of defamation cases where plaintiffs sought to use the courts to seek accountability against public figures or media outlets that lied about the outcome of the 2020 election and its aftermath. In April, Fox News paid more than $787 million to settle claims by Dominion Voting Systems over the network’s promotion of misinformation about the election. Ray Epps, an Arizona man who took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, sued Fox this month, claiming that its former host Tucker Carlson had promoted a “fantastical story” that Mr. Epps was an undercover government agent who instigated the violence that day as a way to disparage Mr. Trump and his supporters. Last year, Ms. Freeman and Ms. Moss appeared as witnesses at a public hearing of the House select committee investigating Jan. 6 and told the story of what happened after Mr. Giuliani amplified the false claims that they had pulled thousands of fraudulent ballots from a suitcase in their vote-counting station and illegally fed them through voting machines.

Persons: ” Mr, Gottlieb, Freeman, Moss, Trump, Giuliani, Ray Epps, Tucker Carlson, Epps, Jan, Mr Organizations: One America News Network, Fox News, Dominion Voting Systems, Fox Locations: Arizona

July 21 (Reuters) - Alabama executed a man early on Friday for beating an elderly woman to death two decades ago, the state's first execution since Governor Kay Ivey lifted a suspension on capital punishment in February following a review. Barber argued to the United States Court of Appeals that his execution should be halted because he is at substantial risk of serious harm and "torture" under current protocols. Legal and ethical questions have swirled around capital punishment in the United States after several lethal injections have been botched in recent years. The number of executions in the United States has drastically fallen since 1999, when a record 98 executions were carried out. Capital punishment was reinstated in the United States in 1976.

Persons: Kay Ivey, James Barber, William Holman, Barber, Dorothy Epps, Ivey, Brendan O'Brien, Daniel Trotta, Gursimran Kaur, Bharat Govind Gautam, Sandra Maler, Andrew Heavens Organizations: William, William Holman Correctional, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Department of Corrections, United States, of Appeals, Thomson Locations: Alabama, . U.S, Atmore , Alabama, Harvest , Alabama, United States, Chicago

☆ Alabama to put inmate to death, state's first execution since suspension
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Brendan O'Brien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Barber argued to the United States Court of Appeals that his execution should be halted because he is at substantial risk of serious harm and "torture" under current protocols. Legal and ethical questions have swirled around capital punishment in the United States after several lethal injections have been botched in recent years. The number of executions in the United States has drastically fallen since 1999, when a record 98 executions were carried out. Capital punishment was reinstated in the United States in 1976. Over the last five years, a total of 78 death row inmates have been executed, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Persons: Kay Ivey, James Barber, William Holman, Dorothy Epps, Ivey, Barber, Brendan O'Brien, Sandra Maler Organizations: William, William Holman Correctional, Republican, Department of Corrections, United States, of Appeals, Thomson Locations: Alabama, Atmore , Alabama, Harvest , Alabama, United States, Chicago

☆ Tucker Carlson and his former college roommate are reportedly looking to raise 'hundreds of millions' to launch a new media company
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Gabriel Rivera | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tucker Carlson is teaming up with his Daily Caller cofounder to raise money for a new media venture, WSJ reported. The former college roommates want to build the platform off of Carlson's Twitter videos. Tucker Carlson has moved on from Fox News — and has his sights set on a media empire all his own. Carlson and Neil Patel, his former college roommate and fellow Daily Caller cofounder, are looking to raise "hundreds of millions of dollars" for a new business venture, The Wall Street Journal reported. In the lawsuit, Epps alleged that "Fox, and particularly Mr. Carlson, commenced a years-long campaign spreading falsehoods about Epps."

Persons: Tucker Carlson, Carlson, Neil Patel, Patel, Ray Epps, Epps, Fox Organizations: Fox News, Dominion Voting Systems, Street Journal, Twitter, Elon, Trinity College, Trump

NEW YORK, July 12 (Reuters) - An Arizona man filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Wednesday, alleging the network spread a conspiracy theory that he played a key role in the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump. This years-long campaign of disinformation, Epps claims in his suit, "destroyed" the lives of Epps and his wife. The lawsuit in Delaware state court comes as voting technology company Smartmatic is suing Fox for defamation, and several months after the company settled defamation claims brought by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million. The company acknowledged the court found some Fox claims about Dominion were false. Carlson told viewers in January 2022 that Epps was a "central figure" in the attack and "helped stage-manage the insurrection," according to the lawsuit.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ray Epps, Fox, Trump, Epps, Abby Grossberg, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, Helen Coster, Jack Queen, Tom Hals, Jamie Freed Organizations: YORK, Fox News, U.S, Capitol, Trump, FBI, Dominion Voting Systems, Fox, Dominion, Fox Corp, United States Capitol, Thomson Locations: An Arizona, Delaware, Washington, New York, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ Trump supporter sues Fox News alleging Tucker Carlson defamed him by calling him an FBI informant who incited January 6 riot
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ray Epps sued Fox News, saying host-turned-Twitter vlogger Tucker Carlson defamed him. Carlson accused him of being an FBI informant who incited the Capitol riot. According to the lawsuit, Epps and his wife, Robyn Epps, both listened to Fox News push falsehoods about the results of the 2020 election. "The lies that Fox told were heard by Ray and Robyn Epps, loyal Fox viewers and fans of Tucker Carlson and other Fox personalities," the lawsuit says. The conspiracy theory about Epps has been frequently advanced by Tucker Carlson, a Twitter vlogger who was fired by Fox News in April.

Persons: Ray Epps, Twitter vlogger Tucker Carlson, Epps, Carlson, Ray Epps —, Donald Trump, Fox News —, Trump, Joe Biden, Fox, Robyn Epps, Ray, Tucker Carlson, Chadwick Moore, —, Kevin McCarthy, Robin, Fox News didn't Organizations: Fox News, Twitter, Capitol, Trump, Service, Fox, FBI, Smartmatic, Voting Systems, Dominion, CBS Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington

☆ Arizona man targeted by January 6 conspiracy theorists sues Fox News for defamation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Ray Epps, the Arizona man that conspiracy theorists falsely claim led an FBI plot to orchestrate the January 6 insurrection, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Fox News, accusing the right-wing channel and former host Tucker Carlson of defamation. “Eventually, they turned on one of their own.”Spokespeople for Fox News did not immediately return a request for comment. “As Fox recently learned in its litigation against Dominion Voting Systems, its lies have consequences,” the lawsuit added. In that same month, Fox News also settled an election-related lawsuit with a Venezuelan businessman who had also sued the network for defamation. Fox is also facing another major defamation lawsuit from voting technology company Smartmatic, which is suing the network for $2.7 billion.

Persons: New York CNN — Ray Epps, Tucker Carlson, “, Donald Trump, ” Spokespeople, Carlson, Epps, baselessly, Epps ’, ”, Carlson’s, Trump, Abby Grossberg, Fox Organizations: New, New York CNN, FBI, Wednesday, Fox News, Republican Party, Capitol, Fox, Dominion Voting Systems, Trump Locations: New York, Arizona, untangle, Venezuelan

☆ Fox News sued for defamation by Trump supporter Ray Epps over Jan. 6 conspiracy claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ray Epps, in the red Trump hat, center, gestures to others as people gather on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 2021. Fox News was sued for defamation Wednesday by self-described Donald Trump supporter Ray Epps for "spreading falsehoods" that Epps was an undercover FBI agent who was responsible for encouraging a mob of Trump backers that invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The suit by Epps, a former U.S. Marine, said that as Fox recently learned in the Dominion case, "its lies have consequences." He was among the throng of supporters of then-President Trump who gathered outside the Capitol on Jan. 6. Epps and other Trump backers believed false claims by Trump and his allies that the 2020 presidential election had been rigged in favor of President Joe Biden.

Persons: Ray Epps, Donald Trump, Epps, Tucker Carlson, Trump, Joe Biden, Ray Epps —, —, Robyn's Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Fox News, Trump, Arizona, Fox Corp, U.S . Marine, Fox, Republican Party, Dominion, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Washington ,, U.S, Dominion, Delaware, Court

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