Fox Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch was due to be questioned under oath this week in a defamation lawsuit over his network’s coverage of unsubstantiated vote-rigging claims during the 2020 US presidential election.
Election technology company Dominion Voting Systems is seeking $1.6 billion in damages from Fox News Network, which it has accused of spreading untrue claims that its machines were used to rig the 2020 election against Republican Donald Trump and in favour of his Democratic rival Joe Biden.
Fox has argued that it had a right to repeat Mr Trump’s claims of vote manipulation, labelling it “reporting” and that Dominion’s lawsuit goes against freedom of the press.
A judge rejected the network’s bid to toss the case in December 2021.
“From the highest levels down, Fox knowingly spread lies,” Dominion said.
Dominion is also suing other conservative media outlets and commentators who accused the company of conspiring to overthrow Mr Trump.
Mr Murdoch, who is 91, is the highest-profile individual to be questioned by lawyers for Dominion, according to a filing in Delaware Superior Court. The session was closed to the public.
Dominion has also sought emails and other forms of communication from Mr Murdoch, his eldest son Lachlan and Fox News personnel as it looks to substantiate that the network either knew the statements it aired were false or recklessly disregarded their accuracy.
That is the standard of “actual malice”, which public figures must prove to prevail in defamation cases.
Dominion alleged in its March 2021 lawsuit that Fox amplified the false theories to boost its ratings and stay abreast of hard-right competitors including One America News Network, which Dominion is also suing.
The complaint cited instances where, in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, allies of Mr Trump such as Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell appeared on Fox News and falsely claimed Dominion software may have manipulated vote counts in favour of Mr Biden.
Mr Murdoch’s high-stakes deposition on Tuesday comes at a time when Dominion has spent the past several months questioning a parade of Fox News hosts, executives and producers.
On December 5, Lachlan, the executive chairman and chief executive of Fox Corp, sat for a deposition in Los Angeles. Mr Murdoch’s other son, James, was questioned in October.
Fox hosts and co-hosts Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Jeanine Pirro and Bret Baier have also been questioned in recent months, court records show, as well as former host Lou Dobbs.
Fox News chief executive Suzanne Scott and president Jay Wallace have also sat for depositions.
Reuters contributed to this report
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Racecard
6pm: Mina Hamriya – Handicap (TB) $75,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
6.35pm: Al Wasl Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.10pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,900m
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
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Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
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