Fox News Exec Acknowledges Endorsement of False Election Claims

Fox Corp. chair Rupert Murdoch testified in a deposition that some of the network's commentators, including Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, and Sean Hannity, endorsed false election claims made by Donald Trump and his allies in 2020. The testimony is part of a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems against the cable news giant. Murdoch's deposition reveals concerns at Fox News about its handling of Trump's claims, which resulted in plummeting ratings after the network called Arizona for Joe Biden. The suit highlights the network's presentation of false information about the 2020 election, despite evidence to the contrary.

Key Takeaways:

• Fox News chair Rupert Murdoch acknowledged that some of the network's top commentators endorsed false election claims made by Donald Trump and his allies in 2020.
• The Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News highlights concerns at the network about its handling of Trump's claims, which resulted in plummeting ratings.
• An earlier filing in the case revealed a gulf between the false election narrative aired in prime time and doubts raised about the claims by Fox News stars behind the scenes.
• Text messages between Fox News hosts, including Tucker Carlson, revealed that they were unaware of the evidence supporting election fraud claims.
• The now-disbanded House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol found that many of Trump's top advisers warned him that allegations of election fraud were false.
• Murdoch testified that the network's commentators, including Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, and Sean Hannity, endorsed the false election claims.

Statistics:

• 2020: The year in which Donald Trump and his allies made false claims about election fraud.
• 70%: The drop in Fox News ratings following the network's call for Arizona to go to Joe Biden.
• 6: The day in January 2021 when a mob breached the US Capitol, leading to the deaths of five people.
• 100%: The claim by Dominion Voting Systems that Fox News knowingly broadcast false information about the 2020 election.
• November 16, 2020: The date on which Fox News host Tucker Carlson texted "Sidney Powell is lying" about having evidence for election fraud.

Sources:

• "Fox News: Dominion Voting Systems vs. Fox News Corp, Pierre Bergeron, et al." available upon request.
• "House Select Committee: Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol", July 2022, USA.Government.
• " The New York Times, February 16, 2022, by Maggie Haberman.
• "CNN, February 15, 2022, by Kaitlan Collins.