Washington (CNN) Fox News formally apologized to the judge Dominion defamation suitTaking responsibility for a “misunderstanding” regarding Rupert Murdoch’s role in the network that led to the judge Start an investigation Possible legal misconduct by Fox, according to a letter obtained by CNN.
In a letter dated Friday and filed in court, Fox attorney Blake Rohrbacher said the right-wing network “never intended to withhold information” and that its misrepresentations about Murdoch’s formal role at Fox News were “not misleading.” avoid court or question.”
“We understand the court’s concerns, apologize, and are committed to clear and complete communication with the court,” Rohrbacher wrote. Don’t want to skip.”
A legal dispute surrounds Murdoch’s roles at Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corporation. In past court filings, and when asked directly by the judge, Fox’s lawyers have repeatedly said he has no official title at Fox News. But last week, Fox also revealed an executive at Fox News.
Dominion said the discrepancy may have been part of a process Fox invented — to prevent the voting technology company from receiving more Murdoch-related emails and text messages. The judge was outraged by Fox’s misrepresentations and said he would bring in a third-party attorney to investigate whether Fox lied to the court and withheld evidence from Dominion.
Fox’s Me Culpa comes ahead of the trial, with opening statements expected Monday.
At a hearing last week in Wilmington, Delaware, Fox attorneys said they never withheld any material from Dominion. They say Murdoch was not involved in the alleged defamatory broadcasts in 2020, and he testified in his deposition that he had never heard of Dominion.
Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis He thought about the matter “My problem is that I have been told more than once that he is not an official of Fox News,” he said at a pre-trial hearing Tuesday. At another hearing the next day, she told Fox’s lawyers, “I need people to tell the truth, and the omission is a lie.”
Fox denies defamation of Dominion, saying the case would seriously undermine press freedom.
