Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- July 11, 2023
- Location
- Washington, District of Columbia
- Targets
- Fox News
- Legal Orders
-
-
subpoena
for
communications or work product
- July 11, 2023: Pending
- Aug. 11, 2023: Unknown
-
subpoena
for
communications or work product
- Legal Order Target
- Institution
- Legal Order Venue
- Federal
Subpoena/Legal Order
A portion of the subpoena issued to Fox News on July 11, 2023, seeking the recording and notes from an interview host Tucker Carlson held with former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund in connection with a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump.
Fox News Network was subpoenaed by former President Donald Trump’s legal team on July 11, 2023, for recordings and notes after ex-network host Tucker Carlson referenced an unaired interview he conducted with former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund.
Trump is facing a lawsuit filed by seven Capitol Police officers who were injured during the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol. On March 16, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals denied Trump’s request to reconsider his motion to dismiss the suit, as well as several others. Discovery in the case is now underway.
Puck reported that Carlson spoke about his interview with Sund during a July 7 podcast with Russell Brand. According to Carlson, Sund claimed the Jan. 6 crowd was rife with federal agents.
Trump now seeks a copy of the recording and all communications referencing the interview, according to a copy of the subpoena reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
After receiving the subpoena, Fox News wrote Trump’s legal team arguing that the materials are protected under reporter’s privilege and suggested that they could obtain the information by deposing Sund himself, according to Puck. Mediaite reported that Sund recently published a book about the riots.
Fox News did not respond to a request for comment as of publication.
On Aug. 10, Carlson, who was fired from Fox News the previous April, published a recorded interview he conducted with Sund on the social platform X, writing that it took place because Fox News opted against airing the previous one.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include details from the subpoena and Tucker Carlson’s second interview with Steven Sund.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
