Ian Wolfe and Helen Koster | Reuters
WASHINGTON – Fox News Network on Thursday lost an attempt to dismiss a $ 1.6 billion lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems Inc, a voting machine company that claims Fox defamed it by reinforcing conspiracy theories about its technology.
In a written ruling, Delaware Court Judge Eric Davis said Dominion reasonably stated that he was defamed by Fox News’ 2020 election coverage and the case should go to court.
“At this stage, it is likely that Dominion is filing a defamation lawsuit as such,” Davis said in the ruling. “Accordingly, Fox’s motion must be rejected.”
Dominion’s lawsuit filed in March accused Fox of trying to raise its TV ratings by spreading false conspiracy theories that the company faked the presidential election against Republican Donald Trump, who lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump campaign surrogates, including lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, have advanced conspiracy theories that Dominion falsified the vote in the weeks following the November 3, 2020 presidential election.
In a statement, a Fox News spokesman called Dominion’s lawsuit “unfounded” and said the network remains committed to defending.
“As we have argued, FOX News, like all news organizations across the country, has energetically covered the latest news of the unprecedented 2020 elections, providing full context for each story with detailed reporting and clear analysis,” a Fox spokesman said.
Dominion and Smartmatic, another election software company at the center of pro-Trump conspiracy theories, are seeking billions of dollars in compensation from Trump allies they have accused of defamation, including Powell, Giuliani and the CEO of MyPillow Inc. Mike Lindell.
In August, a judge rejected motions to dismiss the case filed by Powell, Giuliani and Lindell. Trump allies continue to defend themselves in court, claiming that their statements about Dominion and Smartmatic were free speech, protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
