Fox News has been dealt a major legal blow with a Delaware judge ruling against his attempts to dismiss a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems. The suit alleges that the network aired false information about the company's software and the 2020 election, which were promoted by former President Trump associates and allies. The judge rejected Fox's defense of its broadcasts on First Amendment grounds, saying the network failed to report statements debunking the claims of election fraud. The case will now go to trial with key elements already decided in Dominion's favor, such as the fact that the false statements hurt the company's reputation. The jury trial is expected to span weeks and could reveal damaging internal communications between Fox hosts and executives, with text messages and emails already brought to light showing them throwing cold water on Trump's false claims of electoral fraud but worrying how fact checking those claims could hurt their standing with their audience. The trial is set to begin in Wilmington, Delaware on April 17 and will have major implications for Fox's future and media law more generally.
POLITICS
LEGAL
DEFAMATION LAWSUIT