Teen in video of D.C. rally sues CNN
COVINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky teen at the heart of a January encounter with an American Indian activist at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington has sued CNN for monetary damages, alleging the cable channel falsely labeled him a racist who instigated a threatening confrontation.
The attorneys for Nicholas Sandmann also filed suit last month against The Washington Post and are threatening numerous other news organizations, including The Associated Press.
In papers filed Tuesday in federal court in Covington, Sandmann and his parents accuse CNN of “falsely attacking, vilifying and bullying” Sandmann.
“Contrary to its ‘Facts First’ public relations ploy, CNN ignored the facts and put its anti-Trump agenda first in waging a 7-day media campaign for false, vicious attacks against Nicholas,” the lawsuit states.
A CNN spokesman declined to comment.
The actions of Sandmann and his Covington Catholic High School classmates have been debated since video and photographs emerged of them wearing “Make America Great Again” caps and facing off with Omaha Nation elder Nathan Phillips.
Both Sandmann and Phillips say they were trying to defuse tensions that were rising among three groups on a day Washington hosted both the anti-abortion March for Life, attended by the Covington students, and the Indigenous Peoples March. But video of Sandmann staring and at times smiling at Phillips as he sang and played a drum gave some who watched it a different impression.