Rupert Murdoch, 91, will be made to testify next week under oath regarding Fox News’ 2020 election coverage.
Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion libel case against Fox News deposes Murdoch on Dec. 13 and 14.
The complaint says the network promoted misleading statements about Dominion’s influence in the 2020 election to raise viewers and stave off competition from conservative outlets.
Rupert Murdoch will be deposed next week as part of Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation suit against Fox News https://t.co/5qgdunGeA8
— Bloomberg (@business) December 6, 2022
Why Is Murdoch Testifying?
Murdoch’s testimony will be by teleconference, according to the document.
Rupert Murdoch is perhaps the highest-profile individual deposed by Dominion attorneys, who have spent months questioning network execs, producers, and presenters as to whether they knew statements made regarding Dominion technology over Fox’s airways were untrue.
Unwaged guests made many more offensive statements, notably Donald Trump-affiliated lawyers Rudy Giuliani & Sidney Powell; however, some were echoed by Fox commentators like Jeanine Pirro, Maria Bartiromo as well as Lou Dobbs, who no longer works for the corporation.
Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch’s oldest son, was deposed in Los Angeles on Monday. Murdoch is the executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp and his father’s inevitable successor. James Murdoch, the former CEO of Fox News parent 21st Century Fox, was dismissed on Oct. 25.
BREAKING NEWS: Dominion Voting Systems slaps FOX “News” owner Rupert Murdoch and hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, and Steve Doocy with a deposition in its massive lawsuit over their false election fraud claims. RT IF YOU HOPE THAT DOMINION BANKRUPTS FOX “NEWS!”
— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) August 26, 2022
Hannity Was Questioned, Too
Dominion attorneys have also deposed renowned Fox anchors like Sean Hannity, Pirro, and Tucker Carlson, as well as past on-air talent, including Shepard Smith. Legal teams for the election tech firm have probed CNN’s culture and related processes. The corporation has reams of internal Fox correspondence.
Suzanne Scott, Fox News’ Executive, was questioned on Nov. 1, and Jay Wallace two weeks later.
Hannity’s questioning on Aug. 31 ran upwards of seven hours. Powell stated that Dominion “used a program that shaved down Trump votes and assigned them to Biden” and “used the devices to inject and add enormous numbers of Biden votes.”
Dominion has earlier notified Fox correspondents and executives that audits and assessments had revealed no indication of fraud or undercounting ballots in the election. Hannity broadcast Powell’s attack on Dominion “despite being told it was untrue and knowing it was coming,” the firm stated in one court document.
At the same time, Pirro “hosted Powell and approved her statements.”
Journalistic Freedom or Lies?
Fox News says Dominion’s lawsuit violates journalistic freedom and the sum requested is “outrageous.” Fox’s attorneys say the network reported on a public figure’s electoral fraud concerns.
“Very few occurrences in the last 50 years in this nation are more remarkable than our president charging that a voting machine firm stole votes,” Fox’s lawyer told The Washington Post in August.
Dominion claimed Fox doubled down instead of responding appropriately and showing contrition. “We’re holding Fox responsible and believe the truth will triumph.”
Fox has shielded Hannity and Pirro from discussing “secret sources and information,” asserting “a journalist’s right to confidentiality.” Hannity has claimed he does not regard himself as a reporter. Dominion has said that even if they are journalists, they have no such right when the material is important to whether Fox behaved with “actual malice.”
Neither party has hinted at a deal. If no deal is reached by April 17, a five-week trial will commence in Delaware Superior Court. Dominion “should not have 2 options to drag Fox through large, public trials,” Fox News says.
