A high-stakes lawsuit brought by Elon Musk’s X against Media Matters is set to move forward, with a trial slated for April 2025. This comes after Media Matters sought to have the case dismissed, but Judge Reed O’Connor denied their motion on Thursday, siding with X.
The judge confirmed that X “has properly pled its claims,” allowing the case to proceed, as reported by the Post Millennial.
Elon Musk launched this significant legal battle in 2023, accusing Media Matters of fabricating screenshots that supposedly displayed ads from major advertisers on X alongside extremist and neo-Nazi content.
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According to the lawsuit, Media Matters concocted this report as part of an “ideologically driven crusade” against X following Musk’s acquisition of the platform. The lawsuit contends that this skewed portrayal directly contributed to a steep decline in advertising revenue, as Media Matters allegedly misrepresented X as a haven for extremist content, turning advertisers away.
Musk’s reaction to the court’s decision was concise but powerful, as he posted “LFG!!” on X, signaling his determination to confront Media Matters head-on. Echoing Musk’s enthusiasm, Rumble’s CEO added fuel to the fire by declaring, “Absolutely huge news! Media Matters’ days are numbered,” underscoring the significance of the court’s ruling.
LFG!! https://t.co/FRDdOfvbYn
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 30, 2024
The lawsuit goes further to assert that Media Matters deliberately sought to portray X as a platform overrun by neo-Nazism and anti-Semitism, with the clear intent of driving away advertisers, publishers, and users. X maintains that this was a calculated effort by Media Matters to tarnish the platform’s reputation and severely impact its profitability.
In response to the lawsuit, Media Matters attempted to have the case dismissed, arguing in a Texas court that the lawsuit lacked a legal basis. They cited “lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, and failure to state a claim,” according to a report by Newsweek.
The lawsuit specifically names two staffers from Media Matters, including the organization’s president, Angela Carusone, as being directly involved in the alleged misconduct.
Since the lawsuit’s initiation, Media Matters has not only faced mounting legal challenges but has also experienced internal turmoil. The organization laid off a dozen employees, a move that Carusone explained to Newsweek as necessary, stating that the group would need to be “extremely intentional” in how they allocate resources to remain effective amid the legal onslaught.
The difficulties for Media Matters don’t end with this lawsuit. The organization is also under investigation by the Attorneys General of Missouri and Texas, Andrew Bailey and Ken Paxton, who have launched separate investigations into allegations that Media Matters manipulated data for ideological purposes.
Despite Media Matters’ efforts to block these investigations, Bailey’s case continues to advance, further complicating the situation for the embattled organization.
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