Fox News has to pay yet another hefty sum of money after a record settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. This is just another hammer to the face for the broadcasting system.
Abby Grossberg, former producer, reached an agreement with the network. Twelve million dollars after she claimed that the network had a hostile and discriminatory work environment that had asked her to provide false testimony, according to CNN.
“I stand by my publicly filed claims and allegations,” she said, but said that he has agreed to withdraw the lawsuit after reaching the $12 million deal.
“I am heartened that Fox News has taken me and my legal claims seriously,” she said. “I am hopeful, based on our discussions with Fox News today, that this resolution represents a positive step by the Network regarding its treatment of women and minorities in the workplace.”
One spokesperson on Fox News confirmed the arrangement saying, “we are pleased that we have been able to resolve this matter without further litigation.”
A court document that was allegedly leaked to The New York Times stated that Fox News was striving to “move on” from former President Donald Trump after his loss in the 2020 presidential race in relation to its recent agreement with Dominion Voting Systems.
This leak appeared following the settlement Fox News agreed upon with Dominion Voting Systems, deciding to pay a record $787.5 million for defamation, however, this compromise didn’t include any form of an apology from Fox News to the software company.
“Fox settled with Dominion over charges that Fox News baselessly accused the company of rigging its voting machines against former President Donald Trump in 2020. It was the most-watched media libel case in decades,” The Associated Press reported, additionally saying that through various financial mechanisms such as tax deductibility and insurance coverage, Fox News will likely never have to pay the full amount.
According to Becker News, former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who took up a position as Fox News’ board of directors after leaving Congress “has become quite influential with” the network’s authority. The alleged leaked document displays that “Ryan has been an influential force behind the network’s decision to move on from Donald Trump.”
“As a Board Member, Ryan believed that the period immediately following the 2020 Presidential Election ‘was a pretty important inflection point, not just for the company Fox, but for the country and for the conservative movement itself,’ and shared this ‘view as a fiduciary’ with Rupert and Lachlan,” the document notes, going on to cite an exhibit.
“Ryan told Rupert and Lachlan ‘that Fox News should not be spreading conspiracy theories,’” it noted further.
“On December 6 , 2020, Paul Ryan texted Rupert and Lachlan, telling them, we are entering a truly bizarre phase of this where [Trump] has actually convinced himself of this farce and will do more bizarre things to delegitimize the election,” the document says. “I see this as a key inflection point for Fox, where the right thing and the smart business thing to do line up nicely.”
“Ryan told Dias about his own conversation with Rupert and Lachlan, reporting he told them that ‘this is a huge inflection point to keep Trump down and move on for the future of the conservative movement.’ Ryan added: ‘Both Rupert and Lachlan agree fully. The key is to execute our collective will,’” the document added.
After this settlement, Fox News has lost two major personalities, one of which being Fox’s top-rated host.
The document leak comes amid a detrimental shake-up at the network of on-air talent, including the departure of top-rated, integral host Tucker Carlson, who often outpaced all other cable news hosts. Now, a new report has opened the public’s eyes on who really made the final decision to cut ties with him.