Rupert Murdoch’s testimony unveiled in Dominion lawsuit against Fox News
Court documents were unsealed in the ongoing lawsuit against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems, revealing more testimony from News Corp. Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch acknowledged that he declined to restrain Fox News hosts who spread false claims of widespread voter fraud in the days following the 2020 election, despite privately expressing that he found little evidence for then-President Donald Trump’s claims, and that he found half of them “bulls— and damaging.”
According to the documents, some Fox News hosts, including Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, and Maria Bartiromo, had done more than just give a platform to baseless claims of voter fraud, they also endorsed them.
Murdoch testified in the ongoing lawsuit against Fox News filed by Dominion Voting Systems, and his previous testimony has already been made public in court filings. The documents reveal a growing collection of testimony from top Fox News and Fox Corp. executives that detail how the cable channel reacted in the hours, days, and weeks after the 2020 election, opening the door for baseless claims of election fraud to become a consistent talking point.
The filing highlights how Fox News’ calling Arizona for Joe Biden late on election night sparked a viewer backlash that resonated among the company’s executives and high-profile hosts, sparking concerns about what it would mean for its business.
Murdoch also confirmed that he could have exerted some control over the network, most notably by telling Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott to stop putting Giuliani on the air.
