In a high-profile legal move, President-elect Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Monday against veteran pollster Ann Selzer, her firm, and the Des Moines Register, accusing them of attempting to interfere in the 2024 election.
The lawsuit, reported by Fox News, alleges that Selzer, a renowned Iowa-based pollster with over 20 years of experience, deliberately skewed a poll to favor Vice President Kamala Harris just days before Election Day. Trump claims the poll, which showed Harris leading him by three points in Iowa, was false and violated Iowa consumer protection laws.
“The poll was election-interfering fiction,” the complaint stated, adding that the final results — a decisive 13-point victory for Trump in the state — exposed the poll’s inaccuracy. Trump further alleged that the poll was part of a broader effort to sway public perception in Harris’s favor.
Poll Sparks Controversy Before Election Day
Selzer’s poll, published three days before the election, sent shockwaves through political circles as it indicated Harris leading in a state traditionally considered a Republican stronghold. Harris supporters celebrated the results, suggesting it demonstrated momentum among key voter demographics, particularly women.
Trump, however, condemned the poll as “highly skewed” and accused Selzer of being one of his “enemies” attempting to manipulate the election. The lawsuit claims the poll was designed to create a false narrative that could influence undecided voters.
Selzer Responds to Allegations
Selzer declined to comment on the lawsuit when approached by the Washington Examiner. However, in a post-election interview, she defended her integrity as a pollster.
“The idea that I intentionally set up to deliver this response when I’ve never done that before — it’s not my ethic,” Selzer stated.
Trump’s Broader Legal Strategy Against Media
The lawsuit against Selzer and the Des Moines Register is part of a pattern of legal action by Trump targeting media organizations and polling outlets. The case follows Trump’s recent $15 million settlement with ABC News over misstatements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. The anchor had incorrectly stated multiple times that Trump was found “liable for rape” in the E. Jean Carroll civil case, when the jury had actually found him liable for “sexual abuse.”
Trump has also filed a similar lawsuit against CBS News, alleging that the network violated Texas consumer protection laws by airing shortened clips of a Harris interview. Legal analysts have called that lawsuit frivolous, and CBS News has moved to dismiss it.
Critics argue that Trump’s lawsuits are designed to intimidate media outlets and force them into expensive legal battles. Supporters, however, see the lawsuits as a necessary pushback against perceived media bias.
What’s Next?
The lawsuit against Selzer and the Des Moines Register is expected to face significant scrutiny. Legal experts note that proving intentional manipulation in polling is a complex and unprecedented challenge. As the case unfolds, it could have far-reaching implications for the polling industry and the relationship between political campaigns and the media.
.jpg)
