Scott Jennings asks court to dismiss Hasan Piker’s $72.5 million defamation suit

(Nov. 10, 2026/ JNS)

Scott Jennings, a CNN senior political analyst, asked a federal court on Tuesday to dismiss antisemitic banner Hasan Piker’s $ 72.5 million libel claim and stated that when he stated Piker made racist declarations, it was a secured analysis of Piker’s words.

“Mr. Jennings’ filing today puts fantastic rely on the U.S. Constitution, the reality and the right of Americans to speak, even if Mr. Piker does not like what they need to state,” Benjamin Chew, a legal representative for Jennings, informed JNS.

Piker taken legal action against Jennings on Oct. 27 over an Aug. 11 broadcast, in which the analyst implicated Piker of promoting for lynching black citizens. Piker stated that excerpts from the October 2024 livestream left out context revealing that he was buffooning a black conservative analyst and utilizing sarcasm.

Legal representatives for Jennings, who is among the most pro-Israel analysts on a significant news network, stated that Piker stopped working to adequately declare real malice which Jennings translated Piker’s remarks in such a way that is constitutionally safeguarded.

“The conflict is over whether those declarations show what he actually indicated, which is not adequately proven to be actionable as disparagement,” the filing states.

It likewise mentions other declarations credited to Piker, consisting of that “America was worthy of 9/11” which he “would choose Hamas over Israel each and every single time.” It states that those remarks support the manner in which Jennings analyzed Piker.

“These extra declarations just provide more credence to an analysis that Mr. Piker’s remarks about lynching and being a racist might properly show his views,” the filing states.

Piker’s grievance declares that Jennings harmed his track record and making possible. It likewise recommends that Jennings assaulted him to enhance his potential customers for a Trump administration position.

Attorneys for Jennings stated that even a possible profession advantage would not develop real malice. The movement, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Nov. 10, looks for a termination of Piker’s claims of disparagement, character assassination by ramification and incorrect light.