Right-wing media company Salem apologizes and ceases distribution of the 2020 election conspiracy movie '2000 Mules' due to legal action.
Mark Andrews, a man from Georgia, filed a lawsuit in 2022 claiming that "2000Mules," a book and movie by conservative activist Dinesh D'Souza, contained false accusations regarding the 2020 election. This led to threats of violence against him and his family. Andrews asserted that the film, widely circulated in right-wing media as supposed proof of a stolen election, seriously tarnished his reputation.
In response to the lawsuit, Salem Media Network, the right-wing company behind the film's distribution, made an apology through a statement released on Friday. They expressed regret for the negative impact the inclusion of Andrews' image in the movie, book, and promotional materials has had on him and his loved ones. Salem decided to remove the film from their platforms and discontinue distribution of it and the book.
A spokesperson for Protect Democracy, the nonprofit group that filed the lawsuit on behalf of Andrews, declined to comment on the apology. A representative from Salem Media Network did not respond to a Friday request for comment.
Salem Media Network manages a national talk radio network, featuring programs of popular pro-Trump individuals such as Charlie Kirk and Sebastian Gorka, and impacts more than 2,700 radio affilliates. They also own multiple Christian-format radio stations and a right-wing political website called Townhall.
During the "2000 Mules" film, Andrews was shown depositing ballots, including his family's, into a drop box, which was presented as part of an alleged "mule" operation. A voiceover from D'Souza in the film labeled this as "a crime" and "fraudulent votes."
Salem stated in their Friday announcement that they had based their decision on information provided by D'Souza. The company also shared that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation cleared Andrews of any illegal voting activity linked to the events detailed in the movie.
Following the 2020 election, Trump's media allies continued to spread false claims that Joe Biden had stolen the election. While these claims were untrue, public opinion surveys showed that their lies were successful in convincing many Republican Party members that Biden's election was illegitimate. As a result, right-wing media outlets have faced numerous expensive lawsuits related to their coverage of the 2020 election. In August, the pro-Trump network One America News settled a lawsuit against voting technology company Smartmatic over their promotion of election lies. Additionally, in 2021, Fox News reached a groundbreaking $787 million settlement in a defamation lawsuit filed by election company Dominion Voting Systems.
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The apology from Salem Media Network has significant implications for their business, as they have ceased distribution of the film "2000 Mules" following a lawsuit. The film, which contained false accusations about the 2020 election, was widely circulated in right-wing media.
Salem Media Network, known for its pro-Trump radio shows and conservative political website, has faced legal challenges due to their coverage of the 2020 election, highlighting the potential consequences for media companies that spread false information.
