Fox News, Lou Dobbs Settle Defamation Suit with Venezuelan Businessman
Former Fox Business Host Accused Businessman of Electoral Interference
Agreement Reached in Case Alleging 2020 Election Defamation
Fox News and one of its former hosts, Lou Dobbs, have settled a defamation suit with a Venezuelan businessman whom the network linked to supposed electoral interference in the 2020 presidential election.
The settlement agreement between Fox News, Dobbs, and Majed Khalil was reached on undisclosed terms, according to a court filing on Friday. Khalil had alleged in a lawsuit filed in 2021 that Dobbs and Trump's attorney Sidney Powell falsely accused him of playing a key role in a plot to swing the election to Joe Biden.
Dobbs and Powell made the allegations on Fox Business Network in the weeks following the election, claiming that Khalil had used his ties to the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to manipulate the vote. Khalil denied the accusations and filed suit, arguing that they had damaged his reputation and caused him emotional distress.
Fox News and Dobbs have not admitted liability as part of the settlement, but they have agreed to retract the statements and apologize to Khalil. The network has also removed the segments containing the allegations from its website and social media accounts.
In a statement, Khalil said he was "pleased that Fox News and Lou Dobbs have finally taken responsibility for their reckless and defamatory statements." He added that he hoped the settlement would send a message that "false and malicious attacks on individuals will not be tolerated."
The settlement brings to a close one of several defamation lawsuits filed against Fox News and its hosts in recent years. The network has faced criticism for its promotion of false and misleading information, particularly during the Trump administration.
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