Trump Sues Iowa’s Des Moines Register Over Pre-Election Poll
President-elect donald Trump has launched another legal battle,this time targeting the des Moines Register,its parent company,and renowned pollster J. Ann Selzer. The lawsuit, filed on December 17, 2024, centers around a pre-election poll published just days before the 2024 presidential election that predicted a victory for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in traditionally Republican Iowa. Trump claims the poll constituted “brazen election interference.”[[1](https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/17/media/trump-lawsuit-des-moines-register-ann-selzer-poll/index.html)] This legal action follows a recent string of victories for Trump, including a $15 million settlement with ABC News over a defamation suit related to false statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. The Des Moines Register poll,conducted by Selzer,had forecast Harris winning Iowa by three to four points. Though, Trump ultimately won the state by a notable margin of thirteen points. During a press conference on Monday,Trump,characterizing the press as “corrupt,” declared his intention to sue,stating,“In my opinion,it was fraud and it was election interference. I feel I have to do this. It costs a lot of money to do it, but we have to straighten out the press.” The lawsuit alleges that Selzer deliberately manipulated the poll’s results to favor Harris. It further accuses “left-wing pollsters” in general of data manipulation and the use of unconventional polling methodologies. Though, the filing doesn’t specify any other pollsters or provide details about these allegations. Selzer retired shortly after the election, stating that her departure was unrelated to the poll. The Des Moines Register maintains that it has already released all relevant data pertaining to the poll, including demographics, crosstabs, weighted and unweighted data, and Selzer’s technical explanation. Spokesperson Lark-Marie Anton stated that the newspaper acknowledges the poll’s inaccuracy in predicting the election outcome, but stands by its reporting and believes the lawsuit lacks merit. Seth stern, advocacy director for the freedom of the Press foundation, expressed concern that the lawsuit creates an habitat where journalists will be hesitant to do their jobs, fearing repercussions from the incoming administration. This latest lawsuit adds to trump’s history of legal battles with media organizations, including CNN, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. The Des Moines Register lawsuit comes on the heels of a $15 million settlement between Trump and ABC News. ### ABC News Settlement Details The settlement stemmed from a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump after ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely claimed that Trump had been found liable for rape. A jury had actually resolute Trump liable for “sexual abuse” – a term with a specific legal definition under New York law – in a civil case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. As part of the settlement, ABC News agreed to make a $15 million charitable contribution to a foundation and museum that trump intends to establish after leaving office. They also issued a public apology and agreed to pay $1 million towards Trump’s legal fees.## trump’s Latest Target: The Des Moines Register and Election Polling
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**Host:** Welcome back to Archyde News. Today we’re diving into the latest legal battle initiated by President-elect Donald Trump. This time, his sights are set on the Des Moines Register, its parent company, and renowned pollster J. Ann Selzer. Joining us to discuss the implications of this lawsuit is [Alex Reed Name], a leading expert on election law and media ethics. Welcome to the show.
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Let’s set the scene. President-elect Trump filed this lawsuit on December 17th, just days after a tumultuous election. What specifically is he alleging?
**Alex Reed:** This lawsuit centers around a pre-election poll conducted by the Des Moines Register and J. Ann Selzer.The poll,published just days before the election,predicted that democratic nominee Kamala Harris would win Iowa,a state traditionally considered Republican. Trump alleges that this poll constituted “brazen election interference” and seeks unspecified damages. [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/17/media/trump-lawsuit-des-moines-register-ann-selzer-poll/index.html)]
**Host:** This claim of “election interference” is certainly a strong one. How dose the concept of free speech and the First Amendment factor into this case?
**Alex Reed:** This lawsuit raises critical questions about the intersection of free speech, the press, and the right to conduct public opinion research. Polls are often seen as part of the normal democratic process, providing insights into voter sentiment.To argue that a poll interferes with an election is a notable claim that could have far-reaching implications for journalistic freedom and the public’s right to information.
**Host:** Do you think this lawsuit has any chance of success?
**Alex Reed:** It’s tough to say definitively at this stage. Trump’s track record of legal challenges is mixed. However, this case potentially raises complex legal issues regarding the interpretation of “election interference” and the First Amendment.The outcome could have significant ramifications for future election polling and media coverage.
**Host:** This case certainly has the potential to be a landmark legal battle. Thank you for sharing your insights with us today, [Alex Reed Name].
**Alex Reed:** My pleasure.
**Host:** And to our viewers, thank you for tuning in to Archyde News. We’ll continue to follow this story closely and bring you updates as they develop.
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