Lachlan Murdoch has previously launched legal proceedings against Crikey, once in 2020 and last year. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Lachlan Murdoch has filed legal proceedings in the Federal Court, alleging that an article written by Australian independent publication Crickey was defamatory.
The CEO of Fox Corporation filed the proceedings yesterday afternoon against Private Media, the owner of Crikey over an article written by political editor Bernard Keane.
Originally published on June 29, the analysis article covered the January 6 US House Select Committee investigation into the capitol riots and Trumps as well as the Murdoch family’s alleged involvement.
It claimed that the Murdoch’s were “unindicted co-conspirators” in the attack however never made direct reference to Lachlan Murdoch.
Chairman of Private Media Eric Beecher said of the title that it’s not in reference to him.
“The headline – ‘Trump is a confirmed unhinged traitor. And Murdoch is his unindicted co-conspirator’ – clearly refers to Rupert Murdoch, the only ‘Murdoch’ used as shorthand by the media and the rest of the world,”
According to Crikey, Lachlan Murdoch had threatened legal action since the article was published almost two months ago, also demanding an apology and the article to be taken down, which it was for a period of time after the initial complaint.
His legal team argues that it was not “a legitimate exercise in press freedom and freedom of speech” and has caused Lachlan Murdoch serious harm, contrary to what Crikey has claimed.
However the independent publication reinstated the article and subsequently released all the letters sent by Lachlan Murdoch’s legal team, saying they were fully prepared for him to sue and were awaiting the official filing.
They also posted an advertisement in The New York Times, calling for Murdoch to sue them.
“We invited Lachlan Murdoc to sue us and now he has and we say bring it on,” said Crikey editor-in-chief Peter Fray.
“We stand by our story because we believe we are dealing with a matter of press freedom and public interest.”
“We are determined to fight for the integrity and importance of diverse independent media in Australian democracy.”
A NSW court date is yet to be announced.
