Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes are set to testify in a defamation lawsuit that highlights the ongoing legal challenges faced by MSNBC. Following CNN’s recent defeat in a significant defamation case, media analysts have turned their attention to MSNBC, where Maddow and Hayes are implicated in the so-called “uterus collector” lawsuit. This case arises from a series of reports that accused a Georgia physician of conducting unnecessary hysterectomies on undocumented immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The jury trial is scheduled to commence on April 22nd in Waycross, Georgia. Both anchors are anticipated to face intense questioning regarding claims they made during a segment aired on September 15th, 2020, which have been described as “verifiably false.”
Dr. Mahendra Amin, the physician at the center of MSNBC’s reports, is the plaintiff in this case. She contends that her reputation as an obstetrician-gynecologist was damaged by the network’s coverage after she provided medical care to women in ICE custody at the Irwin County Detention Center earlier that year. The initial report was prompted by a whistleblower, which was initially met with skepticism by NBC’s standards department.
Despite this, MSNBC proceeded to broadcast the report, branding Dr. Amin as the “uterus collector.” According to filings from Amin’s legal team, no verification has been made regarding the whistleblower’s account. They argue that MSNBC depicted their client as “an abusive, unethical, and dishonest physician who treated and operated on immigrant women in an abusive manner, without consent, and driven by profit rather than quality healthcare.”
Previously, Judge Lisa Godbey Wood of the Southern District of Georgia determined that a jury could reasonably conclude that MSNBC acted with actual malice, thus allowing the lawsuit to advance to trial. In a 108-page summary, Judge Wood noted, “NBC investigated the allegations made in the whistleblower letter; that investigation did not substantiate the claims and even contradicted some; nevertheless, NBC republished the allegations.”
In total, there are 23 statements deemed “false and defamatory.”
Maddow, Hayes, and on-air colleague Nicolle Wallace are anticipated to provide testimony. Additional witnesses are expected to include NBC News reporters Jacob Soboroff and Julia Ainsley, MSNBC producer Denis Horgan, senior director of standards and practices Mary Lockhart, deputy head of standards Chris Scholl, among others, as reported by Fox News.
“We are reporting breaking news today regarding a concerning new whistleblower complaint that claims, quote, a significant number of female detainees, specifically detained immigrants, at an ICE detention facility in Georgia underwent questionable hysterectomies while in ICE custody,” Wallace stated during the initial coverage of Dr. Amin, which occurred amid a period of “hostile” reporting directed at the Trump administration leading up to the 2020 election.
Wallace informed her audience that allegations of non-consensual hysterectomies had been “circulating on social media” for several days, but that new investigations by her team had “verified” the claims. Julia Ainsley, an NBC News reporter, joined her broadcast to affirm this.
“Our latest findings, Nicolle, stem from discussions with four attorneys who have represented clients at this facility over the last three years, and they are able to significantly expand on this narrative and clarify why the whistleblower Dawn Wooten reported what she did. The attorneys informed us that they were aware of women who were apprehensive about consulting this doctor, and they were able to identify him,” Ainsley explained.
“His name is Mahendra Amin,” she added. “These women were transported from the facility to his practice, with some reporting that they returned with bruises, describing him as excessively harsh and abusive… there were women who were told they required a hysterectomy due to cancer.”
The previously unrestrained environment of cable news coverage has become more regulated in the years following Fox News’ landmark settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, which resulted in a $787 million judgment against the network and the dismissal of Tucker Carlson. Earlier this month, CNN faced a judgment against Navy veteran Zachary Smith after he filed a lawsuit.
