Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Dominion Voting Systems alleges that emails, depositions and text messages among Fox News executives and its top stars show that the network had a clear financial motive to lie to its audience about voter fraud in the wake of the 2020 election.
In a summary judgement motion filed Thursday, the company argued that Fox anchors feared losing viewers to rival Newsmax if they did not perpetuate the fantasy that the election was stolen from President Trump. “The network is being rejected,” wrote Sean Hannity, in a text message to Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson.
In another text thread, Hannity wrote: “Respecting this audience whether we agree or not is critical.” Dominion is seeking $1.6 billion in a defamation suit against the network.
A trial is set for April in Delaware Superior Court. The voting company alleges that Fox News sought to repair its fractured relationship with its audience at Dominion’s expense, by allowing guests to spew wild conspiracy theories that the hosts and executives knew were “crazy” “ludicrous” and “insane.” The 192-page motion uses deposition transcripts and material obtained in discovery to portray a vivid picture of Fox News at a moment of crisis.
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