In Second Defamation Suit, Covington Student Sues CNN For $275 Million

The Covington Catholic High School student who went viral last year for footage of him and his classmates appearing to mock a Native American protester has filed a second lawsuit against a media outlet for defamation.

According to the complaint, Nick Sandmann’s family is suing CNN for $275 million, alleging the network called Sandmann and his classmate’s conduct “racist” in at least four TV segments and in nine articles posted online.

“CNN brought down the full force of its corporate power, influence, and wealth on Nicholas by falsely attacking, vilifying, and bullying him despite the fact that he was a minor child,” the lawsuit says.

Sandmann and his parents filed a lawsuit against the Washington Post for $250 million for defamation last month, a move that was cheered by President Trump, who tweeted “Go get them Nick.”

Clad in Make America Great Again hats, Sandmann and his classmates were filmed at a protest at the National Mall, where there was a clash of activists from various groups, including Native Americans and Black Hebrew Israelite protesters. In footage of the encounter, Sandmann is the student who was seen smirking and staring inches away from Native American Nathan Phillips’s face while he performed a song. Sandmann and the other students were criticized for their behavior, which appeared to be mocking Phillips and other activists.

Covington High School conducted its own investigation of the incident and concluded the students were not to blame. Sandmann maintains that the Black Hebrew Israelites instigated the tension, which the group denies, and he and his classmates were just trying to drown them out.

Lawyers for Sandmann did not immediately return TPM’s request for comment. CNN declined to comment, a spokesperson told CNN.

Read the complaint below: