Critics of Fox News are urging a Canadian-founded private equity firm to step in and save America’s Democracy. On Monday, the trial over Dominion Voting’s case against Fox News was pushed back, and there is speculation the two parties are negotiating a potential settlement.
Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson expressed her strong objection to this settlement, tweeting: “PLEASE, Dominion – don’t settle with Fox! You’re about to prove something really big!” MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan also argued that the only way to put an end to the “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen, was to continue to trial.
This goes much deeper than “just” Dominion Voting. The Canadian-based private equity company is asking for $1.6 billion to cover losses (both in business and security) due to the false conspiracy theories pushed by Fox News, as well as an apology and retraction of these unfounded claims. Dominion and its lawyer Tom Clare have expressed their dissatisfaction with the host-less segment on Fox that only briefly mentioned there was no evidence of election rigging.
The clear goal of this case is to paint Fox News responsible for the outcomes of the trial and shift accountability for pushing lies about a stolen election onto the news organization. While the case does seem substantial, a courtroom does not always reflect complete truth. There are legal restrictions on evidence, courtroom decisions and personal reasoning to consider as well.
Experts have signaled multiple times that Fox ought to settle and avoid dragging the case on for months or years. In the past, Rupert Murdoch-owned companies have shown a history of settling out of court. But the questions remains: Would a settlement protect the network from future lawsuits, ensure their First Amendment rights, and reduce the potential damages?
No matter which way Fox News goes, this case will have a long-lasting impact. Dominion Voting’s lawsuit stands as a central symbol of accountability and as a reminder that our democracy should not be taken for granted.
About the Company Mentioned
Dominion Voting Systems is a Canadian-founded private equity firm that provides election technology solutions to governments and organizations around the globe. They are currently headquartered in Colorado, and their shares are owned by Staple Street Capital.
About the Person Mentioned
Gretchen Carlson is a former Fox News host who had accused their CEO and Chairman, Roger Ailes, of sexual harassment. She had received a $20 million settlement from Ailes, along with an official apology. Currently, she talks about various news related topics on her Twitter.
