Politics
Trump threatens $5 billion defamation lawsuit against think tank over crime report
The Center for American Progress refused demands to retract its analysis questioning the impact of National Guard deployments on violent crime.
The short version
- A lawyer for Donald Trump demanded that the Center for American Progress retract a July 13 report or face a $5 billion defamation lawsuit.
- The nonprofit's analysis concluded that Trump's National Guard deployments had no measurable impact on decreasing violent crime rates.
- The think tank missed the Friday deadline after rejecting the demand, defending its research as factual and constitutionally protected.
- It remains unconfirmed whether Trump will formally file the lawsuit following the group's refusal.
Key facts
- Trump attorney Alejandro Brito sent a letter demanding the Center for American Progress retract its July 13 report or face a $5 billion lawsuit.[PBS NewsHour]
- The disputed report concluded that National Guard deployments had no measurable effect on violent crime trends, which were already dropping.[PBS NewsHour]
- Brito argued that the report made false and defamatory claims causing Trump substantial financial and reputational harm.[PBS NewsHour]
- Center for American Progress leadership refused to retract the document, with general counsel Kevin Metz asserting that truth cannot constitute defamation.[PBS NewsHour]
What remains uncertain
- Whether Trump's legal team will proceed with filing the threatened $5 billion complaint in court following the expired deadline.[PBS NewsHour]