Fox News suffers a major setback in the Dominion case

Fox News suffered a significant setback Friday in its defense against a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit that claims it lied about voter fraud in the 2020 election.

A Delaware Superior Court judge says the case, brought by Dominion Voting Systems, is strong enough to find Fox hosts and guests repeatedly made false claims about Dominion machines and their supposed role in a fictional plot to steal the election of President Donald J.Trump.

“The evidence developed in this civil proceeding,” Judge Eric M. Davis wrote, demonstrates that it “is CRYSTAL clear that none of the statements relating to Dominion regarding the 2020 election are true.

Judge Davis said the case would still go to trial, for a jury to assess whether the media company spread false allegations about Dominion knowing they were false, and to determine damages. The trial is scheduled to begin on April 17.

“We are satisfied with the court’s thorough decision categorically rejecting all of Fox’s arguments and defenses, and finding in law that their statements about Dominion are false,” a Dominion spokeswoman said in a statement Friday. “We look forward to going to trial.”

A Fox spokeswoman said, “This case is about and has always been about First Amendment protections of the media’s absolute right to cover the news. Fox will continue to fiercely defend the rights to free speech and a free press as we enter the next phase of these proceedings.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.