Reuters
June 30, 2015
U.S.
presidential candidate and real estate mogul Donald Trump filed a $500
million lawsuit on Tuesday against Univision over the Spanish-language
TV network's decision
to end its contract to broadcast the Miss USA pageant, which is
co-owned by Trump.
Univision
said last week it would not air the July 12 pageant because of what it
called insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants made by Trump when he
announced he was
running for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
The
19-page lawsuit accuses Univision of a "thinly veiled attempt" to
stifle Trump's freedom of speech in order to boost Democratic
frontrunner Hilary Clinton. The network's
principal owner, Haim Saban, is a Clinton fundraiser, according to the
lawsuit.
While
officially announcing his candidacy on June 16, Trump accused Mexico of
sending rapists and other criminals to the United States.
"They're
bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, and some I
assume are good people, but I speak to border guards and they tell us
what we are getting,"
he said at the time.
In a statement on Tuesday announcing the lawsuit, which he had vowed to file, Trump refused to back down from his comments.
"Nothing
that I stated was different from what I have been saying for many
years," he said. "There is a high level of crime occurring in this
country due to unchecked
illegal immigration."
Nevertheless, he added that he has "great respect for Mexico and love for the Mexican people and their tremendous spirit."
In
a statement, Univision said it reviewed Trump’s complaint, and it is
"both factually false and legally ridiculous." Univision said it would
vigorously defend itself.
The
company said it "will continue to fight against Trump’s ongoing efforts
to run away from the derogatory comments he made on June 16th about
Mexican immigrants," according
to the statement.
Last
week, the network said it would not air the pageant and would sever
ties with the Miss Universe Organization, which had been a joint venture
between Trump and Comcast-owned
NBCUniversal, in light of his "recent, insulting remarks about Mexican
immigrants."
NBC
also cut ties with the "Miss USA" and "Miss Universe" pageants on
Monday, citing Trump's comments. Trump previously said he would not take
part in his NBC reality
television show, "The Apprentice," while he sought the White House.
Trump is considered a long shot to get the Republican nomination despite his name recognition.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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