Murdochs Deny Authorizing Fox News to Promote 2020 Election Fraud Claims Amid Smartmatic Defamation Suit
Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch have denied encouraging Fox News to embrace and air false claims of fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, according to depositions revealed in the ongoing defamation lawsuit brought by Smartmatic.
Smartmatic, a voting technology company, alleges in its $2.7 billion suit that Fox News, under Murdoch leadership, pivoted to promoting Donald Trump's false election fraud claims through its hosts and guests in an effort to restore audience share after losing viewers.
Fox News counters that no disinformation campaign was ever ordered by executives and that the network's coverage merely reflected statements made by Trump associates without any editorial endorsement. Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch have both denied giving directives to cover the fraud allegations.
The case hinges on whether Fox News acted with actual malice—knowing the claims were false or acting with reckless disregard—criteria necessary for awarding damages under U.S. defamation law.
Evidence cited in the suit includes internal communications from Fox hosts such as Jeanine Pirro and Maria Bartiromo that reveal some doubts about the fraud claims and discussions about helping Trump's narrative.
Fox argues the lawsuit centers more on Smartmatic's finances and political leverage arising from statements by Trump's lawyers rather than Fox's own coverage.
Smartmatic seeks a jury to determine damages and wants a pre-trial ruling from Judge David B. Cohen on key legal issues. The judge plans to review all related Fox News broadcasts before making rulings on summary judgment.
This case follows a similar legal battle involving Dominion Voting Systems, another election technology firm. Dominion secured a settlement of $787.5 million in 2023 after a court ruled the false statements about it were defamatory per se.
The outcome of the Smartmatic case could have significant implications, potentially shaping the nature of future defamation litigation against Fox News and similar media outlets.
