The attorney representing former Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann in his defamation lawsuits against media organizations that smeared him last year announced on Thursday that four news organizations filed motions to dismiss the lawsuits and that all four requests were denied.
Attorney Lin Wood wrote on Twitter: “Motions to Dismiss @N1ckSandmann defamation lawsuits filed in KY federal court against NY Times, Rolling Stone, ABC, & CBS were just DENIED. NBC motion has previously been DENIED. Gannett motion was briefed on different time schedule & a DENIAL is expected in next few weeks.”
Motions to Dismiss @N1ckSandmann defamation lawsuits filed in KY federal court against NY Times, Rolling Stone, ABC, & CBS were just DENIED.
NBC motion has previously been DENIED.
Gannett motion was briefed on different time schedule & a DENIAL is expected in next few weeks.
— Lin Wood (@LLinWood) October 1, 2020
Sandmann echoed the news on Twitter, writing: “Motions to Dismiss defamation lawsuits against NY Times, Rolling Stone, ABC, & CBS were just DENIED.”
Motions to Dismiss defamation lawsuits against NY Times, Rolling Stone, ABC, & CBS were just DENIED.
— Nicholas Sandmann (@N1ckSandmann) October 1, 2020
The lawsuits center around false media reports regarding an interaction that Sandmann had with Omaha tribe elder Nathan Phillips that falsely portrayed Sandmann as an aggressor.
Sandmann has already settled a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Washington and settled a $275 million defamation lawsuit against CNN.
Sandmann spoke out against cancel culture while speaking at the Republican National Convention in August.
“I found myself face-to-face with Nathan Phillips and other professional protesters looking to turn me into the latest poster child showing why Trump is bad,” Sandmann said. “While the media portrayed me as the aggressor with a ‘relentless smirk’ on my face, in reality the video confirms I was standing with my hands behind my back and an awkward smile on my face that hid two thoughts. One, don’t do anything that might further agitate the man banging a drum in my face and two, trying to follow a family friend’s advice never to do anything to embarrass your family, your school, or your community.”
“Before I knew what was happening, it was over,” he continued. “One of Mr. Phillips fellow agitators yelled out ‘We got him!’, ‘It’s all right here on video’ and ‘We won Grandpa.’ What I thought was a strange encounter quickly developed into a major news story complete with video footage.”
“My life changed forever in that one moment,” Sandmann continued. “The full war machine of the mainstream media revved up into attack mode. They did so without ever researching the full video of the incident; without ever investigating Mr. Philips’ motives; or without ever asking me for my side of the story. And do you know why? Because the truth wasn’t important. Advancing their anti-Christian, anti-Conservative, anti-Donald Trump narrative was all that mattered. And if advancing their narrative ruined the reputation and future of a teenager from Covington, Kentucky…so be it. That will teach him not to wear a MAGA hat!”
“I learned that what was happening to me had a name. It was called being cancelled. As in annulled. As in revoked. As in made void,” he continued. “Cancelled is what’s happening to people around this country who refuse to be silenced by the far left. Many are being fired, humiliated or even threatened. Often, the media is a willing participant.”
“But I wouldn’t be cancelled. I fought back hard to expose the media for what they did to me and won a personal victory. While much more must be done, I look forward to the day that the media returns to providing balanced, responsible and accountable news coverage,” Sandmann continued. “In November, I believe this country must unite around a President who calls the media out and refuses to allow them to create a narrative instead of reporting the facts.”
This story has been updated to include additional information.