‘Unlawful enterprise.’ Lawsuit accuses Jeremy Hunt, Fox News of fraud, election violations
A Macon businessman who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District has filed a lawsuit in Columbus against Fox News, network host Brian Kilmeade and former opponent Jeremy Hunt, alleging the three violated federal election laws and committed fraud. .
Wayne Johnson, who previously served in the U.S. Department of Education during the Trump administration and finished third in the May primary, filed the civil racketeering lawsuit days before Hunt is set to face Thomasville attorney Chris West in the GOP runoff to determine who will face incumbent Sanford Bishop in November’s election.
Among other things, Johnson alleges that the network dedicated more than 56 minutes of airtime in 15 segments featuring Hunt, exposure that wasn’t given to other candidates in the race.
Those appearances would cost more than $2.8 million at Fox’s national Prime time advertising rate of $50,000 per minute, Johnson alleges.
“Unfortunately we believe that Defendant Hunt, Defendant Fox News Network and Defendant Kilmeade have violated the trust of the people of Middle and Southwest Georgia by way of flagrantly and illegally using Fox News Network assets to propagandize the campaign of Jeremy Hunt,” Johnson told the Ledger-Enquirer in a statement.
In a statement to the Ledger-Enquirer, Hunt called the lawsuit desperate.
“It is kind of sad that twice-failed candidate Wayne Johnson and Chris West have resorted to such desperate tactics. This lawsuit will be dismissed as quickly as Wayne Johnson was dismissed by voters of the 2nd District,” he said. “It’s telling that Chris West refuses to denounce dirty tricks like these often played by the radical left against true conservative candidates.”
Johnson alleges that during the campaign Hunt maintained an open line of communication with Kilmeade, a host on Fox and Friends, as well as others employed at Fox News to suggest ideas that would get Hunt on the air.
The lawsuit identified Kilmeade as the “primary orchestrator” who set up events with Hunt and the network. Hunt announced that he was running for Congress during a Jan. 13 Fox and Friends segment, and he also appeared on the show on May 24, the morning of the primary.
After each appearance, Johnson alleges that Hunt saw an increase in fundraising and out-of-district donations.
Johnson wrote letters to the network in February and May asking for equal air time and accusing Fox of violating the law. The lawsuit states that West and another GOP candidate Rich Robertson also formally asked the network for equal air time.
Johnson also alleges that Hunt and the network committed wire and mail fraud by misrepresenting and omitting information about Hunt.
Johnson cites the network’s claims that Hunt is a Columbus army veteran as an example. The lawsuit alleges that Fox is trying to imply that Hunt is from Columbus. However, Hunt recently moved to the city.
Other Republicans mentioned in the lawsuit
Though not listed as a defendant, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and his Veterans to Victory organization are named in the lawsuit.
Johnson alleges that the organization is not registered as a PAC, but that it is acting as if it is. Cotton raises funds that are then split with the candidates as part of his effort to get military veterans elected to Congress, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that Cotton and other third parties try to help the candidates secure endorsements from other influential Republicans. The third parties then connect Cotton’s candidates with Fox News for media appearances.
Johnson alleges that Cotton and the third parties provided Hunt with more than $5,000 worth of services before he declared his officially declared candidacy in January — which would be a violation of federal law.
According to the lawsuit, Johnson is seeking judgments “in an amount to be determined at trial.”
Hunt was the top vote-getter in May’s primary, securing just over 22,900 votes or nearly 37% of the total ballots cast. West finished second with a little over 30% of the vote.
West spokesperson Stephen Lawson told the Ledger-Enquirer that the Fox allegations are just “another in a long list of issues Jeremy Hunt can’t seem to explain.”
Early voting in the runoff ends Friday, and Election Day is June 21.
This story was originally published June 16, 2022 at 5:17 PM.