Trump sues pollster, claims ‘election interference’

President-elect Donald Trump sued Ann Selzer, her polling firm, The Des Moines Register, and its parent company, Gannett, accusing them of consumer fraud under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday, alleges that the now-retired pollster’s November survey constituted “election interference.” The November 2 poll showed Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump by 3 points in Iowa—a state Trump won by double digits. Trump’s legal team argues the poll was misleading.

The suit claims Selzer’s survey aimed to create a false narrative favoring Harris in the election’s final days. Trump also criticized the poll’s timing following early leaks.

Selzer’s firm and the Register defend the poll’s accuracy, stating that it did not reflect the final election results but provided complete data and explanations.

Legal experts have questioned the suit’s merit, with some calling it an attack on the First Amendment. 

Trump has sued other media houses, too
The legal action follows the president-elect’s recent $15 million defamation settlement with ABC News and his ongoing lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Trump had filed a lawsuit against anchor George Stephanopoulos for allegedly saying on-air earlier this year that the former president was found liable for raping E. Jean Carroll; a jury found him liable for sexual abuse.

Media law experts aren’t happy with the settlement as they feel it sets a wrong precedent.

Trump has sued media organizations, including CNN, The Washington Post and the New York Times, multiple times (even in his first term).

He has also filed lawsuits against journalists and their book publishers. He recently sued CNN for $10 billion over the outlet’s 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.