Fox issued an apology to the presiding judge on the eve of the defamation case trial against the network.
In 2021, Dominion Voting System filed a case agains Fox Corp. for defamation. The case alleges that Fox made false claims that the voting machines issued by Dominion for the 2020 presidential elections were rigged. These were the same machines that counted the votes on the election of President Biden against former president Donald Trump.
After two years of awaiting trial, the case was finally heard yesterday. And on Sunday night, Fox issued a letter or apology to Judge Eric Davis, the presiding judge of the case.
The letter expressed the media giant’s regret in not disclosing Rupert Murdoch’s role in the company clearly. Murdoch didn’t have an official title in the company, only that he is part of the executive, according to Fox’s lawyers. As such, Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis reprimanded the defendants for not being clear in what Murdoch’s role truly is.
Last Wednesday, Davis issued a saction to Fox for being difficult by withholding evidence that could prove crucial to the trial.
In response, Fox News sent the letter to Davis on Sunday, the night before the trial. In the apology statement, Fox said that Murdoch is the Executive Chair of Fox News.
Fox said it was a misunderstanding. “We should have updated the Court following the April 5 hearing with a complete answer, and we should have taken care before the hearing to ensure that our written submissions reflected all listed corporate titles for the individuals at issue for both Fox entities.”
Dominion Voting System’s case against Fox could cost the media compnay more than $1.6 billion in damages. Fox has denied the claims Dominion has made and whatever the initial verdict on the case is, an appeal is likely to happen.