Fox board members issued subpoenas in Smartmatic's defamation case concerning fabricated claims about the 2020 election.
Yesterday, Smartmatic sent legal notices to Anne Dias, Charles Carey, Roland Hernandez, and Jacques Nasser, four board members of Fox Corporation, the parent company of Fox News. The notices demand the board members turn over documents related to Fox News's unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.
Erik Connolly, Smartmatic's lead attorney, said in a statement, "We're taking accountability and responsibility seriously, and Smartmatic is set on understanding why these board members allowed the company's flagship news outlet, Fox News, to disseminate false information about the 2020 election."
This follows New York Judge David Cohen's earlier order mandating Fox Corporation to present documents concerning the board members, as part of the ongoing case.
In addition to the board members, Rupert Murdoch, Fox Corporation's founder and a right-wing media mogul, was deposed toward the end of last year.
A Fox spokesperson was unavailable for comment when approached by CNN.
Historically, Fox Corporation's board members have kept quiet while facing criticism for their right-wing network's controversies, with no response given to CNN's inquiries regarding whether they've been complicit in any of the offensive language or claims broadcast.
In a previous court filing, Smartmatic claimed the board members had knowledge of Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch's handling of Fox News, had exchanged emails with Smartmatic and used them during depositions, attended meetings post-broadcasts, and even discussed the 2020 election and potential threats to Fox News's brand.
These subpoenas come after Judge Cohen's ruling earlier this year allowing Smartmatic to sue Fox Corporation in addition to Fox News, escalating the legal battle with Fox's corporate leadership, including the influential Murdoch family.
The suit, filed at New York State court post-2020 election, accuses Fox News and some of its hosts of purposely spreading lies about Smartmatic with the intention of persuading the public that the presidential election was tampered with for Joe Biden.
"They needed a villain. They needed someone to blind. They needed someone they could make the people hate. A tale of good versus evil only works if the storyteller provides the viewers someone who represents evil," the lawsuit explained. "Without any real villain, defendants decided to conjure one. Defendants opted to make Smartmatic the villain in their tale."
Fox News had previously denied trash-talking anyone and described Smartmatic's lawsuit as a violation of the First Amendment.
"Smartmatic's damages claims are implausible, disconnected from reality, and are clearly designed to censor First Amendment freedoms," a Fox News spokesperson told CNN a while back. "We'll be set and ready to defend this case about hotly debated events when it goes to trial, expected to be in 2025."
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In response to the legal notices sent by Smartmatic, Fox Corporation's board members, including Anne Dias, Charles Carey, Roland Hernandez, and Jacques Nasser, are expected to provide documents related to Fox News's false claims regarding the 2020 election. These board members' actions raise questions about their role in allowing Fox News, a major media business under Fox Corporation, to disseminate unfounded election conspiracy theories.
