After months of legal battles, Dominion Voting Systems has reached a settlement with Fox News in a defamation lawsuit that accused the media outlet of spreading false and damaging claims about the company’s role in the 2020 presidential election.
Dominion, a company that provides election technology and software, filed the lawsuit against Fox News and its parent company Fox Corp. over allegations that the company had “switched votes” from former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden and that it was involved in a conspiracy with foreign countries and deceased Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to rig the election.
The lawsuit sought $1.6 billion in damages, claiming that Fox News had acted with “actual malice” and “reckless disregard” for the truth, and had harmed Dominion’s reputation, business, and employees.
On the first day of trial, the two parties reached a settlement for $787.5 million. Dominion’s lawyer called it a moment of “accountability” and “vindication” for the company, while Fox News acknowledged that some of its claims about Dominion were false and said the settlement reflected its “continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards.”
The settlement is the largest ever paid by a media company in a defamation case and is being seen as a historic moment for the accountability of conservative media outlets that had amplified Trump’s false claims of election fraud. It also exposed the inner workings of Fox News, with internal emails and testimony from its executives, hosts, and journalists revealing that they were skeptical of the fraud narrative but still allowed it to air for ratings and political reasons.
The settlement is a significant victory for Dominion, which has been fighting to restore its reputation in the wake of the election. It is also a reminder of the importance of responsible journalism and the consequences of spreading false information.
