While Newsmax has gotten increased attention as a Trump loyalist, it’s also received attention of the negative kind as well: lawsuits and threats of lawsuits over its content. But Newsmax is largely hiding that from its readers.
On the Nov. 30 edition of right-winger Howie Carr’s radio show, which Newsmax TV simulcasts, right-wing lawyer Joe DiGenova went on a tirade against Christoper Krebs, the former head of the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency whom Trump fired after he stated that the presidential election was secure. “That guy is a class A moron,” diGenova said. “He should be drawn and quartered, taken out at dawn and shot.”
That’s a pretty clear threat — so much so, that Krebs quickly filed a lawsuit against DiGenova and Newsmax for defamation. Newsmax responded in a CNBC article with an attempt to distance itself from diGenova:
Newsmax said: “Newsmax TV airs the The Howie Carr Show, a Boston-based syndicated radio program it licenses, as a simulcast for one hour each weekday. Mr. diGenova appeared by phone on that simulcast as a guest and made comments that were inappropriate. Mr. diGenova is not a paid contributor to Newsmax and has no official ties to him.”
“Mr. diGenova has appeared on Newsmax since then on two occasions stating he made the comment ‘facetiously’ and apologized,” the right-wing media outlet said.
“He stated that he intended no harm to Mr. Krebs. Newsmax believes that claims made by Mr. Krebs in his suit of a ‘conspiracy’ and defamation against him are a threat to free speech and his legal action endangers all media organizations that seek an open discourse of ideas and news.”
You won’t read that at Newsmax, however — it has censored news of the lawsuit. The only reference you’ll find to the controversy is a Dec. 5 article by Eric Mack in which DiGenova appeared on a different Newsmax TV show to walk back his threat against Krebs, insisting that it was “made in complete jest” and “a poor attempt at humor. They were hyperbole during a political discussion,” adding, “I meant no suggestion of harm or intention to harm Mr. Krebs or his family, and I apologize for any misunderstanding of my intentions.”
Actually, diGenova’s intentions were all too clear — and that’s why Krebs is suing him and Newsmax.