From CNN · Marshall Cohen,Oliver Darcy · · 1m 20s
Fox News pays $787 million to settle Dominion lawsuit
Fox News averts a defamation trial by settling with Dominion Voting Systems over false 2020 election claims.
In brief
Fox News averts a defamation trial by settling with Dominion Voting Systems over false 2020 election claims. Fox News agreed to pay more than $787 million to Dominion to avoid a public trial that would have exposed internal communications about knowingly spreading election lies. Originally reported by CNN.
Fox settles massive defamation case
Fox News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems more than $787 million to settle a defamation lawsuit over false claims about the 2020 election. The settlement came just before trial was set to begin.
Why the settlement matters
The settlement averts a public trial that would have exposed Fox News internal communications and testimony about how the network knowingly spread false election fraud claims.
The false claims at issue
Fox News repeatedly aired claims that Dominion voting machines were rigged to steal votes from Donald Trump in the 2020 election. These claims were false and caused significant damage to Dominion's reputation.
Last-minute decision
Fox News decided to settle just before the trial began, avoiding the risk of a jury verdict and the public airing of damaging internal documents and depositions.
Record-breaking payout
The $787 million settlement is one of the largest defamation settlements in U.S. history, reflecting the severity of the false claims and their impact on Dominion.
In short
Fox News agreed to pay more than $787 million to Dominion to avoid a public trial that would have exposed internal communications about knowingly spreading election lies.
