A high-stakes legal battle unfolds as former President Donald Trump challenges the credibility of one of America's most respected pollsters and a major Iowa newspaper.
According to NBC News, Trump has filed a lawsuit in Polk County, Iowa, against pollster Ann Selzer, her polling firm, The Des Moines Register, and its parent company, Gannett, alleging consumer fraud over a pre-election poll that showed Kamala Harris leading in Iowa.
The lawsuit centers on a November 2 poll that predicted Harris would win Iowa by 3 percentage points, contrasting sharply with the actual election results where Trump secured victory by 13 percentage points.
The legal action claims this discrepancy amounts to "election-interfering fiction" and violates the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.
The survey, which sampled 808 likely Iowa voters, showed that Harris had 47% support compared to Trump's 44%. This prediction sparked controversy, as Trump had been widely expected to win the state. The surprising poll results led to an internal investigation after potential leaks emerged before its official release.
The Des Moines Register has defended its position through spokesperson Lark-Marie Anton, maintaining the newspaper's transparency in releasing complete polling data and technical explanations. Following the election, Selzer announced her decision to cease polling political contests and pursue other ventures.
Trump's legal team argues that the poll was intentionally manipulated to create a false narrative of Harris's inevitability in the final week of the 2024 Presidential Election. The filing specifically targets Selzer's reputation and alleges a pattern of attempting to influence political races in favor of Democrats.
Media law specialists have expressed skepticism about the lawsuit's potential success in court. Clay Calvert, a media law expert from the University of Florida's Levin College of Law, suggests the lawsuit's true purpose may be media intimidation rather than legal victory.
The lawsuit claims millions of Americans, including Iowa residents and Trump campaign contributors, were deceived by what it terms the "doctored Harris Poll." Trump's legal team emphasizes that the significant polling miss was not coincidental but intentional.
Election law expert Rick Hasen from UCLA School of Law has dismissed the lawsuit's prospects. This legal action follows Trump's recent victory against ABC News, where he secured a $15 million defamation settlement plus $1 million in legal fees.
The lawsuit against Ann Selzer and The Des Moines Register marks another chapter in Trump's ongoing campaign against media coverage and analysis he deems biased.
Filed in Polk County, Iowa, the case alleges consumer fraud and seeks accountability for what Trump's team describes as election interference through polling.
The implications of this legal action extend beyond the immediate parties involved, potentially affecting future polling practices and media coverage of elections. With The Des Moines Register standing firmly by its reporting and Selzer declining to comment, the stage is set for a legal battle that could influence how polling organizations operate in future election cycles.
