Conservative CNN contributor Scott Jennings filed a motion to dismiss a $72.5 million defamation lawsuit brought by progressive streamer Hasan Piker, escalating a legal battle that hinges on whether a controversial clip about lynchings was taken out of context.
The Allegations
Piker’s lawsuit, filed last week, claims Jennings defamed him in August by airing a selectively edited 42-second clip from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) that omitted sarcastic framing from a 2024 livestream. The clip in question featured Piker appearing to say, “We need more Klansmen… Can we go back to a better time when lynchings were happening?”—statements he alleges were mocking a Black conservative commentator, not endorsing racial violence.
Jennings’ motion argues that Piker, as a public figure, must prove “actual malice”—meaning Jennings either knew the remarks were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. His attorney, Benjamin Chew, insists that Piker’s history of inflammatory rhetoric makes the interpretation plausible.
Jennings’ Defense
The filing contends that Jennings had no reason to doubt the NRSC’s clip, citing Piker’s past statements—including claims that “America deserved 9/11” and calling the U.S. “the absolute worst f*cking place on the planet.” The motion also highlights Piker’s use of racial slurs and his declaration that he’d “vote for Hamas over Israel every single time.”
“The dispute is over whether [Piker’s] statements reflect what he really meant, which is not sufficiently verifiable to be actionable as defamation,” the motion states.
Legal Hurdles for Piker
Legal experts say Piker faces an uphill battle under the “actual malice” standard set by Supreme Court precedent. His complaint alleges Jennings added misleading captions to the clip, but Jennings’ team counters that Piker’s broader rhetoric undermines his credibility.
The case could hinge on whether sarcasm in the original livestream was obvious enough to render Jennings’ interpretation reckless. A hearing on the dismissal motion is expected in the coming weeks.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-scott-jennings-moves-to-dismiss-hasan-pikers-72-5-million-lawsuit