Fox News settlement with Dominion sets the cost of lying at $787.5 million
After word of a settlement had been reached in the defamation suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News, the network issued a hysterically ridiculous statement.
First, Fox admits that it lied about election fraud and Dominion, lamely attempting to do so in the nicest possible way.
“We are pleased to have reached a settlement of our dispute with Dominion Voting Systems. We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false.”
Certain claims?
Let’s review.
'Highest journalistic standards'? Not exactly
Back in December 2021, when Fox was still pretending it had done nothing wrong, Delaware state court Judge Eric M. Davis refused to dismiss Dominion’s lawsuit against Fox and wrote in part:
“Fox possessed countervailing evidence of election fraud from the Department of Justice, election experts, and Dominion at the time it had been making its statements. The fact that, despite this evidence, Fox continued to publish its allegations against Dominion, suggests Fox knew the allegations were probably false.”Fox’s statement then says, “This settlement reflects FOX’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards.”
Really, that’s what it reflects? The “highest journalistic standards”?
Fox hosts knew they were spreading lies
Like when Fox’s hosts admitted in texts and emails with one another that they knew they’d been spreading lies?
And even when the top dog at Fox, Rupert Murdoch, is quoted as calling Trump’s election fraud claims “really crazy stuff” and “terrible stuff damaging everybody, I fear”?
Finally, in its statement, Fox says, “We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.”
Calls, baseless charges: The origins of the Arizona election review
Amicably?
Fox agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million in the settlement.
Ain’t nothing amicable about paying somebody that much money.
'The truth matters. Lies have consequences'
Fox is emptying the piggy bank because its lawyers knew a jury award would be even more costly, not to mention weeks of embarrssing public testimony from Fox hosts and others having to admit they’d misled viewers and defamed Dominion.
“The truth matters. Lies have consequences,” said Justin Nelson, a lawyer for Dominion. “Over two years ago, a torrent of lies swept Dominion and election officials across America into an alternative universe of conspiracy theories, causing grievous harm.”
A big fat settlement is good for Dominion, but it won’t undo the harm done to the country.
That’s ongoing.
It does, however, set a new standard for the price of lying.
On the check Fox will write Dominion, that number looks like $787,500,000.
Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.
For more opinions content, please subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fox settlement with Dominion sets the cost of lying at $787.5 million
