The election technology company Smartmatic pushed back on Monday against Fox News’s argument that it had covered the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election responsibly, stating that Fox anchors had played along as guests pushed election-related conspiracy theories.
“The First Amendment does not provide the Fox defendants a get-out-of-jail-free card,” Smartmatic’s lawyer, J. Erik Connolly, wrote in a brief filed in New York State Supreme Court.
“The Fox defendants do not get a do-over with their reporting now that they have been sued.”The brief came in response to motions filed by Fox Corporation and three current and former Fox hosts — Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro and Lou Dobbs — to dismiss a Smartmatic lawsuit accusing them of defamation.
Smartmatic and another company, Dominion Voting Systems, became the focus of baseless conspiracy theories after the Nov. 4 election that they had manipulated vote totals in contested states.
Smartmatic, which says that the conspiracy theories destroyed its reputation and its business, provided election technology in only one county during the election.
Persons:
Smartmatic, ”, Erik Connolly, — Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, Lou Dobbs —, Rudolph W, Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Donald J, Trump, Trump’s
Organizations:
Fox, Court, Fox Corporation, Dominion Voting Systems, Fox News
Locations:
New York