In a surprising turn of events, Salem Media Group, Inc., the conservative media company behind the book and film "2,000 Mules," has issued a public apology and announced that it will cease distribution of the film. The controversial production, which alleged a widespread conspiracy by Democrats to steal the 2020 election and was embraced by former President Donald Trump, has sparked a defamation lawsuit and faced extensive debunking by law enforcement officials and the media.

The apology specifically extends to Mark Andrews, a voter from Georgia who was falsely depicted as illegally voting in "2,000 Mules." The Georgia Bureau of Investigation cleared Andrews of any wrongdoing and found that he had been legally dropping off ballots for family members. In response to the defamatory portrayal, Andrews filed a lawsuit against Salem Media Group, commentator Dinesh D'Souza, and the organization True the Vote.

Widely discredited, "2,000 Mules" gained a significant following among supporters of the baseless claim that the 2020 election had been stolen. Andrews' lawsuit alleges that the unfounded accusations in the film led to violent threats against him and his family, creating a climate of fear and potential physical harm.

According to a court filing in a related case, Salem Media Group settled the lawsuit with Andrews for an undisclosed but significant amount. The media company, in a statement on their website, expressed remorse for the harm caused to Andrews and his family, claiming that it was never their intention to cause harm. Salem Media Group stated that they had relied on representations made by Dinesh D'Souza and True the Vote, both of whom have yet to respond to NPR's request for comment.

Protect Democracy, a nonprofit organization, assisted Andrews in bringing the lawsuit, similar to their involvement in defamation litigation against Rudy Giuliani by Georgia election workers. They have not commented on Salem Media Group's statement, citing the ongoing nature of the case.

It remains uncertain how Salem's apology will impact the ongoing lawsuit, which is currently in the discovery phase. Moreover, the media company is concurrently engaged in a legal battle with their insurer, alleging failure to cover the costs associated with Andrews' lawsuit.

In an interesting revelation, True the Vote, one of the entities involved in "2,000 Mules," distanced themselves from the book version of the film when D'Souza made allegations of illegal "ballot trafficking" against specific nonprofit groups. True the Vote stated that they had no knowledge of the book's content and had not made any such allegations.

The fallout from "2,000 Mules" continues to unfold, as Salem Media Group acknowledges the harm caused by the film and book and seeks to rectify the situation. As the lawsuit proceeds, the implications of this apology will likely play a significant role in determining the movie's future and potential consequences for those involved.