Fox News Sued By Former Playboy Model

A former Playboy model who has said she had an affair with Donald J. Trump before he was president sued Fox News on Thursday, saying that Tucker Carlson, one of the network’s hosts, had intentionally defamed her on his television show.

Karen McDougal

The NY Times report Karen McDougal claims Carlson had falsely accused her of extortion last year when he said that she “approached Donald Trump and threatened to ruin his career and humiliate his family if he doesn’t give them money.”

McDougal said in the lawsuit, which was filed in New York State court in Manhattan, that she never threatened Mr. Trump. She is seeking damages from Fox News for harming her reputation, but she does not name Mr. Carlson as a defendant. The network is responsible for his comments, she said, and his accusations were reckless and easy to verify as false.

Fox News said in a statement that it would “vigorously defend Tucker Carlson against these meritless claims.”

Eric R. Bernstein, the lawyer representing Ms. McDougal, said she was “harassed, embarrassed and ridiculed” after Mr. Carlson’s comments.

“Media outlets like Fox News must learn that they can’t mislead for ratings,” he said. “They hurt real people like Karen McDougal when they do so.”

Ms. McDougal has said she first met Mr. Trump at the Playboy Mansion in 2006 when he was filming an episode of “The Celebrity Apprentice.” They had a 10-month affair, she said, until she ended the relationship because she felt increasingly guilty about Mr. Trump cheating on his wife. Mr. Trump has denied the affair.