Ed Henry Lawsuit Against CNN, NPR Dismissed

Ex-Fox News host Ed Henry’s defamation lawsuit against NPR and CNN has been voluntarily dismissed. A federal judge granted dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice last week, according to Deadline citing a  document filed in U.S. District in New York. Under the terms, the parties will bear their own costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees. Court records show that the dismissal followed talks between the parties to resolve the case.

Henry sued NPR and reporter David Folkenflik, as well as CNN and two of its on-air personalities, Brian Stelter and Alisyn Camerota, over their reporting on his dismissal from Fox News. Henry was fired from Fox News in 2020 for alleged sexual misconduct.

NPR spokesperson Isabel Lara said, “We stand behind David Folkenflik’s journalism on this story and are proud of the rigor he always brings to his reporting.“

Ed Henry

Folkenflik wrote on Twitter, “Fox News host Ed Henry’s lawsuit against me and NPR has been voluntarily dismissed. We disclosed existence of a memo warning top Fox News execs agst promoting Henry well before his firing. We have not stepped away from a syllable of our report.”

Last year, Henry also sued Fox News and Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott. Oral arguments are scheduled for June 7 in the defendants’ motion to dismiss the case.

The filings follow a similar lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York against Fox News and the channel’s CEO Suzanne Scott. That lawsuit also alleged defamation.

One of the new complaints alleged that Folkenflik, Camerota and Stelter have “longstanding grudges against Fox News and/or individuals associated with the company,” causing them to repeat false allegations on the reasons why Henry was dismissed from Fox News relating to alleged sexual misconduct.

The suit claims the defendants acted with malice toward Henry by “intentionally or recklessly making false statements about him.”

NPR executive director of communications Isabel Lara issued a response to Henry’s lawsuit.

“NPR stands behind David Folkenflik’s reporting and will vigorously defend it against this meritless claim. Millions of Americans trust NPR to provide accurate information about the world and their communities every day; we take this responsibility very seriously.”