Judge Dismisses Capitol Protester's $100M CNN Lawsuit

Source: Newsweek

Published Apr 30, 2024 at 12:09 PM EDT


A Virginia man who "meandered" around the Capitol building after the January 6, 2021, riot has lost his $100 million lawsuit against CNN. Virginia federal judge Arenda Wright Allen, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, dismissed the case on Monday before it reached trial. Jacob Hiles, a charter boat captain from Virginia Beach, alleged that CNN defamed him in an online article published on October 15, 2021, about rioters at the Capitol building. The article's sub-headline read: "Man wanted to start 'a revolution' on January 6."

According to an FBI affidavit, Hiles posted numerous videos and photos on his Facebook page on the day supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building. The posts included a selfie he shared that morning with the caption: "Feelin cute...might start a revolution later. IDK"

Hiles was wearing a mask and ski goggles and a sweatshirt that said "F*ck Antifa." Hiles' lawsuit alleged that the CNN subheading and the article's contents were defamatory because "they falsely accuse Hiles of felonious criminal activity of which he was not charged or convicted, either directly or indirectly." He was initially seeking $37 million in compensatory damages but later sought $100 million.

While Hiles was not involved in rioting, in September 2021, he pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building on the day of the riot. He was sentenced in December 2021 to two years of probation. Newsweek reached out to attorneys for Hiles and CNN for comment via email on Tuesday.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/jacob-hiles-cnn-lawsuit-dismissed-capitol-riot-1895657