Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems, a voting machine company, faced off in a Delaware courtroom on Tuesday over allegations of defamation. Dominion claimed that Fox News recklessly amplified baseless allegations of fraud following the 2020 presidential election, which damaged the company’s reputation. Documents released during the lawsuit revealed that top FOX executives and personalities did not believe the claims but aired them anyway. Dominion argued that Fox News deliberately allowed false accusations to be spread in an attempt to win back viewers who were angered by the network’s correct call of Arizona for Joe Biden on election night.
Fox News, on the other hand, contended that it was simply reporting on newsworthy allegations made by a sitting president. The network’s lawyer, Erin Murphy, stated that they never reported the allegations to be true but provided viewers with the fact that these were allegations being made. The arguments were made during a summary judgment hearing, where both sides asked the judge to find in their favor before the trial in April. Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis has not yet made a ruling on the case.
In a separate development, Fox News producer Abby Grossberg filed a lawsuit claiming that the network pressured her to give misleading testimony during her deposition in the Dominion case. Grossberg alleged that Fox attorneys advised her against hiring a personal attorney and implied that she should not be too candid in her depositions. Fox countered with its own lawsuit, seeking to bar Grossberg from disclosing confidential discussions with Fox attorneys.
The hearing on Tuesday was significant as it exposed Fox News’ personalities’ private disdain for former President Donald Trump and highlighted how political pressures can influence the network’s coverage. The case also has the potential to redefine libel law in the United States.
Dominion argued that Fox employees allowed guests to make false and defamatory statements about the company, including claims that Dominion machines had changed votes in the 2020 election and that the company had rigged the election. They presented deposition testimony and internal communications showing that many Fox employees had serious doubts about these claims. However, Fox’s attorney argued that the accuracy of the allegations was not the main issue and that what mattered was whether the press accurately reported the allegations. They also claimed that there was no evidence of malice on the part of Fox Corp. towards Dominion.
During the hearing, Fox attorney Murphy faced scrutiny over programs hosted by Lou Dobbs, a former Fox host. The judge noted that there seemed to be a “Dobbs problem” for the network. Murphy argued that Dobbs was an opinion host who cited Dominion’s denials but also made it clear that he believed the allegations.
The judge has yet to issue a ruling on the case, which is scheduled to continue on Wednesday. The outcome of this lawsuit will have significant implications for both Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems.
Original Story at apnews.com – 2023-03-21 07:00:00