Fox News and its parent company are being sued for defamation over false claims of election fraud following the 2020 election.
In its defense against Dominion, Fox News' legal team argues the network simply relayed stark claims about national elections, either as "questions to a newsmaker on newsworthy subjects" or by "accurately report[ing] on pending allegations." As the sitting U.S. president, Trump was among the most newsworthy people imaginable, Fox attorneys argue.
Dominion has given a snapshot of the ways and whys in which Fox News helped magnify false voter fraud claims, especially (though not exclusively) those of Sidney Powell.
It all takes place against the backdrop of a huge backlash against Fox after it called AZ for Joe Biden. When Fox presented the truth about the election, viewers started fleeing to Newsmax, with Trump’s encouragement. The filing describes the panic that ensued.
Discovery in this lawsuit reveals through texts and emails, Fox's own employees didn't believe what their primetime hosts were saying on the air.
Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch told Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott in a November 16 email:
“Trump will concede eventually and we should concentrate on [the Georgia runoff elections], helping any way we can. We don’t want to antagonize Trump further, but Giuliani taken with a large grain of salt. Everything at stake here.”
Fox News isn’t just a rightwing propaganda outlet. It’s the communications arm of the Republican Party, promoting its agenda and providing a safe space for GOP elected officials.
This discovery makes it clear that in a bid to cater to viewers who were fed false claims by Trump, Fox played right along with the false claims that would lead to insurrection. Special prosecutor Jack Smith is already examining multiple parts of this effort. This discovery makes evidence that would otherwise be unavailable accessible to prosecutors.
