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Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit over 'Des Moines Register' 2024 presidential poll
iowapublicradio.org • • nation
Key Points:
- A Polk County judge dismissed President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer, which accused an Iowa Poll of consumer fraud for inaccurately predicting the 2024 election outcome.
- Judge Scott Beattie ruled that opinion polls are inherently uncertain and protected under the First Amendment, stating the lawsuit improperly sought to limit free speech.
- The judge expressed concern that allowing the lawsuit to proceed could discourage reporting on public affairs and infringe on free speech rights.
- The free speech group FIRE, which represented Selzer, condemned the lawsuit as an intimidation tactic against critics and highlighted Iowa’s 2025 anti-SLAPP law protecting political speech.
- Selzer acknowledged the poll was a “spectacular miss” but defended her methodology and emphasized that no poll can guarantee election results, praising the ruling for upholding the freedom to publish truthful information without political interference.
