Fox News agreed Tuesday to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to avert a trial in the voting machine company's lawsuit that would have exposed how the network promoted lies about the 2020 presidential election. The company accused Fox News of defamation in its 2020 United States presidential election coverage.
The stunning settlement emerged just as opening statements were supposed to begin, abruptly ending a case that had embarrassed Fox News over several months and raised the possibility that network founder Rupert Murdoch and stars such as Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity would have to testify publicly.
The lawsuit was filed in 2021 and it alleged that Fox News, in an attempt to boost its viewership, aired falsehoods about its voting machines. Former president Trump and his allies claimed that the voting machines were used to rig the 2020 elections. Dominion initially sought $1.6 billion for “intentionally and falsely blaming Dominion for President Trump’s loss,” Al Jazeera reported.
“The parties have resolved their case,” Judge Eric Davis said, before dismissing the 12-member jury, CNN reported.
The settlement “represents vindication and accountability,” Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson told CNN. “For our democracy to endure for another 250 years, and hopefully much longer, we must share a commitment to facts… Today represents a ringing endorsement for truth and for democracy,” he added.
The settlement saves the network's owner Rupert Murdoch and news anchors like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity from testifying.
