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The courtroom is again in session after a lunch break and opening statements are anticipated to start quickly within the historic defamation lawsuit introduced by election know-how firm Dominion Voting Techniques in opposition to Fox Information.
Right here’s what you should know concerning the high-stakes case:
Why is Dominion suing Fox Information? Dominion sued Fox Information in 2021 over the right-wing community’s repeated promotion of false claims concerning the firm, together with that its voting machines rigged the 2020 election by flipping tens of millions of ballots from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. A lot of the 20 allegedly defamatory broadcasts talked about within the lawsuit occurred in November and December 2020.
The corporate alleges that individuals at Fox Information acted with precise malice and “recklessly disregarded the reality” after they unfold this disinformation about Dominion. To show “precise malice,” Dominion should persuade a jury that individuals at Fox Information who had been answerable for these 20 broadcasts knew the Dominion claims had been false or recklessly disregarded proof of falsity — however put them on-air anyway.
In response to Dominion’s concept of the case, Fox promoted these election conspiracy theories as a result of “the lies had been good for Fox’s enterprise.” Dominion’s swimsuit particularly zeroed in on exhibits hosted by Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Jeanine Pirro. Dominion stated that on account of Fox’s “orchestrated defamatory marketing campaign” it has suffered “huge and irreparable financial hurt” and that its staff have been subjected to loss of life threats and harassment.
What’s Fox’s protection? Fox stated it didn’t defame anybody and that the case is a meritless assault on press freedoms.
A spokesperson for Fox has stated the community “is happy with our 2020 election protection” and that its protection “stands within the highest custom of American journalism.” The corporate stated, “Dominion’s lawsuit is a political campaign looking for a monetary windfall, however the actual price can be cherished First Modification rights.”
Fox has additionally accused Dominion of producing “noise and confusion” across the case, stating, “the core of this case stays about freedom of the press and freedom of speech, that are elementary rights afforded by the Structure,” particularly the First Modification.
Fox has tried to get the lawsuit tossed. However in a significant blow to the right-wing community final month, the choose overseeing the case has allowed it to go to trial. He has additionally prohibited Fox from invoking some key First Modification defenses, discovering they had been with out advantage.
What’s Dominion asking for? Dominion is in search of $1.6 billion in damages. They are saying Fox’s on-air lies destroyed its fame and is inflicting election officers to cancel their Dominion contracts. CNN not too long ago reported on the rising mistrust in voting machines in closely Republican counties.
What are the trial logistics? The trial is anticipated to final 5 to 6 weeks and shall be overseen by Delaware Superior Court docket Choose Eric M. Davis, who was appointed to the state bench in 2012 by a Democratic governor. A panel of 12 jurors and 12 alternates is being seated.
Cameras are usually not allowed within the courtroom and there won’t be any video of the proceedings. There additionally gained’t be any nonetheless pictures contained in the courtroom.
Who is anticipated to testify? Anticipated witness embody Fox Company executives Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch; Fox Information CEO Suzanne Scott and president Jay Wallace; outstanding TV hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro, and Bret Baier, amongst others.
Dominion stated it may also name Viet Dinh, Fox’s chief authorized officer, and former Home Speaker Paul Ryan, a Fox board member, to the witness stand.
Each side are additionally hoping to placed on testimony from their handpicked consultants who focus on election statistics, the safety of voting machines, journalism ethics, the influence of disinformation in public discourse, and extra.
Learn extra concerning the case right here.
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