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A bombshell $787m settlement has been reached in the defamation trial between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News, avoiding a painful trial for the right-wing network, owner Rupert Murdoch and some of its top hosts.
Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson, speaking outside court, announced the settlement amount of $787,500,000, the second largest in US history. “The truth matters, lies have consequences,” he said.
Despite acknowledging the Delaware court found some of its election reporting to be false, Fox News stopped short of formally apologising.
The trial had been been due to begin at 1.30pm with opening statements, but the start was delayed for nearly two and a half hours as attorneys for both parties engaged in last-minute negotiations.
Just before 4pm, Judge Eric Davis called the jury into the courtroom to inform them they could be excused.
“The case has been resolved and it’s been resolved because of you,” Judge Davis told the jury.
The settlement means top Fox News talent like Sean Hannity will avoid having to be potential witnesses in the most high-profile media trial of the decade.
Fox News said it was ‘pleased’ with the $787.5m settlement
In a statement, Fox News said: “We are pleased to have reached a settlement of our dispute with Dominion Voting Systems.”
“We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false.”
With the settlement, Fox News has admitted to knowingly spreading false claims about the voting machine company in the afermath of the 2020 presidential election.
However, the hosts responsible for making the claims appear unlikely to have to do so on-air.
CNN’s Oliver Darcy said that the terms of the $787.5m settlement did not include any requirement for Tucker Carlson or Sean Hannity to address the 2020 election lies they helped to spread.
Trump silent on Fox News Dominion settlement
Donald Trump has remained silent on the settlement reached between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems.
The former president is yet to comment on the news – despite the lawsuit being directly related to his election lies.
On Monday, Mr Trump had suggested Fox News should stand by his election fraud lies to weaken Dominion Voting System’s arguments in the case.
“If Fox would finally admit that there was large scale cheating & irregularities in the 2020 presidential election, which would be a good thing for them, & for America, the case against them, which should not have existed at all, would be greatly weakened,” he had claimed.
“Back up those patriots at Fox instead of throwing them under the bus - & they are right! There is sooo much proof, like mass ballot stuffing caught on government cameras, FBI colluding with Twitter & Facebook, state legislatures not used, etc.”
Fox-Dominion $787m settlement is second largest in US history
The $787.5m settlement in the Fox News defamation case brought by Dominion Voting Machines is the second largest award in US history.
Last year, a Connecticut jury ordered Alex Jones to pay $965m to the parents of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting for spreading bogus claims that they were crisis actors.
Who else is Fox News being sued by?
The lawsuit between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News is far from the network’s only legal problems.
These are the other people and companies suing Rupert Murdoch’s empire over the 2020 election lies:
- Smartmatic
- Abby Grossberg
- Fox investors
‘I’m sorry, this is going to be difficult to say with a straight face’
CNN anchor Jake Tapper struggled to keep a straight face as he read Fox News’ statement on the $787m Dominion defamation settlement live on air.
“The settlement reflects — I’m sorry, this is going to be difficult to say with a straight face... this settlement reflects Fox’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards,” Mr Tapper said.
‘We’re not done yet’
Speaking outside court after the $787.5m settlement was announced, Dominion Lawyer Stephen Shackelford said: “Money is accountability, and we got that today from Fox. But we’re not done yet, we’ve got some other people who have some accountability coming toward them.”
Dominion is also suing right-wing networks Newsmax and OAN for spreading lies about the 2020 elections.
Members of the Fox News legal team, including lawyer Dan Webb leave the courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, after the $787.5m settlement was announced.
Watch: ‘Lies have consequences’
Dominion’s attorneys speak outside the court in Wilmington, Delaware, after an historic $787.5m defamation settlement was reached with Fox News.
‘Lies have consequences’: Dominion announces settlement with Fox News
Representatives for Dominion Voting Systems delivered a statement after reaching a settlement with Fox News before opening arguments could begin in a $1.6bn defamation trial on Tuesday, 18 April. Dominion had accused Fox of airing of false claims that its machines were used to rig the US presidential election in 2020 in favour of Joe Biden over Donald Trump. Judge Eric Davis determined that statements made on-air about Dominion after the presidential election were false before the trial began. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Fox News and Dominion reach shock settlement in blockbuster defamation lawsuit moments before trial
Moments before opening arguments in one of the biggest defamation trials in US history were set to begin, Fox News agreed to settle a lawsuit from a voting machine company that accused the network of spreading false statements about its business in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
Alex Woodward has the full story.
Full statement from Dominion CEO John Poulos
“Fox and Dominion have reached a historic settlement.Fox has admitted to telling lies about Dominion that caused enormous damage to my Company, our employees, and our customers.
Nothing can ever make up for that.
Throughout this process, we have sought accountability and believe the evidence brought to light through this case underscores the consequences of spreading and endorsing lies.
Truthful reporting in the media is essential to our democracy. Dominion, our employees and our partners are grateful to the court for allowing the process for the truth to come out.
I cannot thank the election officials that we serve enough. Without them there is no democracy, and they work tirelessly to that end and deserve much better.
We are grateful for all the support we have received, grateful to our legal team, and want to acknowledge Staple Street Capital, who have been unconditional in their support to Dominion and our customers.”
‘I’m sorry, this is going to be difficult to say with a straight face’
CNN anchor Jake Tapper struggled to keep a straight face as he read Fox News’ statement on the $787m Dominion defamation settlement live on air.
“The settlement reflects — I’m sorry, this is going to be difficult to say with a straight face... this settlement reflects Fox’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards,” Mr Tapper said.
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2023-04-19 11:00:00Z
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