Fox News reached a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems on Tuesday regarding its major defamation lawsuit, avoiding a closely-watched trial that could have had far-reaching implications on television broadcasters’ coverage of global news.
The hefty settlement means that Fox News would not have to issue any apologies or retractions for the false statements that were broadcasted, though the network did acknowledge the court’s ruling that certain claims about Dominion were false.
The outcome of the case has several implications for different major persons and companies.
Dominion Voting Systems: Fox News is paying Dominion $787.5 million, which is nearly ten times what the company is worth based on a 2018 valuation. In addition, Dominion avoids a weeks-long trial which, even if the company had come out successfully, could have resulted in years of appeals.
Prominent Fox News Hosts: The lawsuit revealed text messages between prominent Fox News hosts, including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, criticizing Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. However, with the settlement, the hosts will not have to answer any potentially embarrassing questions they sent while under oath.
Smartmatic: Another elections technology company, Smartmatic, is still committed to its own case against Fox News. But with the size of the settlement Dominion received, it is likely that Smartmatic will get a payout from Fox News as well.
Fox News: While Fox News still has to pay a hefty settlement, the network avoids a potentially damaging trial where it could have been found to have acted with malice and be hit with large damages and public apologies.
Democracy: There is debate as to whether the public trial was necessary to answer Fox News’ coverage of the 2020 election. The settlement will not provide any real resolution to the false claims made by Donald Trump and his lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell; they are still being sued.
Us: As a result of the settlement, the public will not be able to tune in to watch closely-watched cable news stars be grilled on the stand over their coverage.
About Dominion Voting Systems: Dominion Voting Systems is an elections technology firm that provides voting machines and other software to state and local governments. Founded in 2003 and based in Colorado, the company became embroiled in controversy after the 2020 US election, when both the company’s name and its software were used as part of the false conspiracy theorizing that the election was “stolen from President Trump”.
About Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and other Fox News Hosts: Carlson, Hannity, and Ingraham are popular cable news broadcasters particularly among conservative viewers, having attracted millions of viewers to their shows. All three have been vocal in their criticism of the 2020 US election, and were embroiled in the false conspiracy theorizing that the election was “stolen from President Trump”.
