Judge in Fox News Defamation Trial Says He Would Require Rupert Murdoch to Testify
Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch
Photo:
Mary Altaffer/Associated Press
A Delaware judge said Wednesday that
Fox Corp.
FOX -0.45%
Chairman
Rupert Murdoch
can’t avoid testifying in person in a looming defamation trial about false election-fraud claims that aired on Fox News.
Superior Court Judge
Eric Davis
said during a pretrial hearing that if plaintiff Dominion Voting Systems issues a trial subpoena for Mr. Murdoch to testify, he “would not quash it.” The same goes for Fox Chief Executive
Lachlan Murdoch,
Fox chief legal and policy officer
Viet Dinh
and former U.S. House Speaker
Paul Ryan,
who sits on the Fox board, Judge Davis said.
“Both parties have made these witnesses very relevant,” he said.
The coming trial, scheduled to begin on April 17, centers on allegations that Fox News and Fox Business defamed Dominion in the wake of the 2020 presidential election by airing false claims by associates of then-President
Donald Trump
that the company’s voting machines rigged votes in favor of then-candidate President Biden. Dominion is seeking $1.6 billion in damages.
Representatives for Fox and Mr. Murdoch didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Fox News parent Fox Corp. and News Corp, the parent of The Wall Street Journal, share common ownership.
Updates to follow as news develops.
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch
Photo:
Mary Altaffer/Associated Press
A Delaware judge said Wednesday that
Fox Corp.
FOX -0.45%
Chairman
Rupert Murdoch
can’t avoid testifying in person in a looming defamation trial about false election-fraud claims that aired on Fox News.
Superior Court Judge
Eric Davis
said during a pretrial hearing that if plaintiff Dominion Voting Systems issues a trial subpoena for Mr. Murdoch to testify, he “would not quash it.” The same goes for Fox Chief Executive
Lachlan Murdoch,
Fox chief legal and policy officer
Viet Dinh
and former U.S. House Speaker
Paul Ryan,
who sits on the Fox board, Judge Davis said.
“Both parties have made these witnesses very relevant,” he said.
The coming trial, scheduled to begin on April 17, centers on allegations that Fox News and Fox Business defamed Dominion in the wake of the 2020 presidential election by airing false claims by associates of then-President
Donald Trump
that the company’s voting machines rigged votes in favor of then-candidate President Biden. Dominion is seeking $1.6 billion in damages.
Representatives for Fox and Mr. Murdoch didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Fox News parent Fox Corp. and News Corp, the parent of The Wall Street Journal, share common ownership.
Updates to follow as news develops.
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
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