Fox News, Lou Dobbs Settle Defamation Lawsuit with Venezuelan Businessman
Case Stemmed from False Claims About Voting System Fraud
Settlement Reached After Legal Battle
Fox News and one of its former hosts, Lou Dobbs, have settled a defamation suit with a Venezuelan businessman whom the network linked to voting-system fraud in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
The settlement involves businessman Majed Khalil, who sued Fox News and Dobbs in 2021. Khalil's lawsuit alleged that Dobbs falsely claimed he played a role in rigging the election in favor of former President Donald Trump.
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. However, a joint statement released by the parties stated that the case was resolved "amicably."
Dobbs has since left Fox News. He was removed from the network in March 2021 after he repeatedly promoted false claims about the election. Powell, who was also named in Khalil's lawsuit, has been disbarred from practicing law in several states for her role in Trump's attempts to overturn the election results.
Khalil's lawsuit was one of several defamation suits filed against Fox News and its hosts over their coverage of the 2020 election. The network has also settled lawsuits with Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, two companies that were falsely accused of manipulating the vote.
The settlement with Khalil is the latest sign that Fox News is facing legal consequences for its role in perpetuating false claims about the election. The network is also facing a defamation lawsuit from the parents of Seth Rich, a Democratic National Committee staffer who was murdered in 2016. Fox News falsely claimed that Rich leaked DNC emails to WikiLeaks.
The settlement with Khalil is a significant victory for those who have been falsely accused of election fraud. It is a reminder that spreading false information about elections can have serious consequences.
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