A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday revived a defamation lawsuit accusing CNN of defaming Project Veritas in its explanation of why the conservative group, which is often accused of using deceptive tactics, was suspended from Twitter in 2021.
Reuters reports the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta said Project Veritas could sue over CNN journalist Ana Cabrera's on-air statement that it was suspended for "promoting disinformation," rather than for publishing private information, or "doxxing."
Without ruling on the merits, the three-judge panel also said Project Veritas plausibly alleged that CNN acted with actual malice, meaning it knew Cabrera's statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for their truth.
CNN, part of Warner Bros Discovery and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Based in Mamaroneck, New York, Project Veritas is known for using covert recordings against opponents, and once obtained the diary of Democratic President Joe Biden's daughter Ashley.
Cabrera now works for MSNBC and is not a defendant. Twitter is now known as X and owned by Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla.
Cabrera told CNN viewers on Feb. 15, 2021 that Project Veritas' Twitter suspension four days earlier was part of a broader crackdown against misinformation.
Her colleague Brian Stelter appeared to agree, saying the group "got swept up in a Twitter policy by violating multiple rules."
After CNN refused a retraction, Project Veritas sued, citing Cabrera's Feb. 11, 2021 tweet stating the correct reason for the suspension.
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