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☆ Smartmatic and OAN Settle Defamation Suit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Katie Robertson | More About Katie Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The voting technology company Smartmatic reached a settlement on Tuesday in its defamation lawsuit against One America News Network, a far-right broadcaster, over the amplification of election falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election. The terms of the settlement were confidential and could not immediately be learned. Smartmatic filed the lawsuit in 2021, accusing OAN of amplifying baseless claims that Smartmatic had been involved in rigging the presidential election through its voting machines. Lawyers for Smartmatic and OAN did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Smartmatic also sued Fox News and Newsmax for defamation over their coverage of election conspiracy theories.

Persons: Smartmatic, OAN Organizations: One America News Network, U.S, District of Columbia, Smartmatic, Fox News

☆ OAN and Smartmatic settle election defamation case
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Marshall Cohen | Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Voting technology company Smartmatic and the far-right network One America News said Tuesday that they had settled a defamation lawsuit stemming from the outlet’s lies about the 2020 election. “The case has been resolved pursuant to a confidential agreement,” OAN attorney Chip Babcock told CNN. The case against OAN was one of a spate of lawsuits filed against right-wing outlets in the aftermath of the election. In the wake of the 2020 presidential contest, pro-Donald Trump outlets spread lies wrongfully suggesting President Joe Biden had not been legitimately elected president. OAN settled a defamation suit in September with former Dominion executive Eric Coomer, whose case revealed how the network worked with former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell and others to lie about the election.

Persons: “, ”, Chip Babcock, OAN, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Smartmatic, Trump’s, Eric Coomer, Trump, Sidney Powell Organizations: CNN, OAN, Fox News, Dominion Voting Systems, Trump, Russian, Dominion, DirecTV Locations: Ukraine

☆ How Speaker Johnson helped Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Years before becoming House speaker, Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana played a leading role aiding Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. That history will be on display Friday, with Johnson set to deliver remarks alongside the former president about “election integrity” – a phrase Trump often uses to describe the lie that the 2020 election was rigged and unfounded concerns about future mass voter fraud. Johnson carved out an influential role after the 2020 election, helping Trump’s attempts to subvert the will of the people and overturn the legitimate results. He later recruited a majority of House Republicans to endorse a Trump-backed lawsuit seeking to invalidate the results from four key states that Trump lost: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. (In truth, as the Supreme Court later affirmed, judges have the power to review state election laws.)

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump’s, Johnson, ”, Trump, Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, ” Johnson, Hugo Chávez’s, Smartmatic, would’ve, Biden, – Johnson Organizations: Republican, Trump, Voting Systems, Biden, Dominion, Fox News, House Republicans, Republicans, Democratic Locations: Louisiana, Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona

☆ Judge schedules Newsmax case over 2020 election lies for September trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A judge has scheduled a major defamation case against right-wing cable channel Newsmax to go to trial in late September, putting the battle over 2020 election lies front-and-center at the peak of the 2024 campaign. A trial could have significant implications for the First Amendment and how journalists cover Trump’s election lies. The conservative network doesn’t attract a large audience like Fox News, but Newsmax’s ratings surged after the 2020 election. In addition to the Newsmax case, Smartmatic is also suing Fox News, the fringe far-right cable channel OAN and Trump allies like Rudy Giuliani and Mike Lindell, who peddled the same election lies. But there were delays in that case, creating an opening for the Smartmatic case.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump’s, Smartmatic, Joe Biden, Eric Davis, Davis, Newsmax, “ Newsmax, … Newsmax, ’, Trump’s, ”, Bill Daddi, Christopher Ruddy, Fox, Eric Bolling, Greta Van Susteren, Sebastian Gorka, Clinton, Dick Morris, Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Lindell Organizations: CNN, Dominion Voting Systems, Trump, Delaware Superior Court, Dominion, Fox News, Fox, Trump White House Locations: Delaware Superior

☆ Right-wing outlets facing 2020 election defamation lawsuits may have found a key defense overseas
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —An alleged bribery scheme in the Philippines has thrown a potential lifeline to Fox News and other right-wing media outlets that are battling massive defamation lawsuits from the voting technology company Smartmatic for their promotion of 2020 election lies. The overseas scandal washed ashore last year when the Justice Department charged the Philippines’ former election commissioner with money laundering. Since then, Fox News, Newsmax and OAN have seized on the allegations, attempting to obtain new documents about potential wrongdoing by Smartmatic that could boost their defense. None of the allegations levied by US prosecutors in court filings pertain to vote-flipping or alleged rigging of election results. Last year, Fox paid a historic $787 million settlement with another election technology company, Dominion Voting Systems, for its promotion of similar election lies.

Persons: CNN —, Smartmatic, Newsmax, Donald Trump, Andres Bautista, Bautista, Fox, Nicolas Maduro, —, Smartmatic “, ”, Trump, “ Smartmatic, ” OAN, Eric Davis, OAN, “, OAN –, ” Smartmatic, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Justice Department, Trump, OAN, Philippine, Smartmatic, Fox, Dominion Voting, Lawyers Locations: Philippines, California, Venezuela, Manila, Smartmatic, Miami, Delaware, Brazil, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Kenya, Oman, Switzerland, Taiwan

☆ Pro-Trump network OAN’s president solicited more info after receiving ‘stolen’ Smartmatic passwords, court documents allege
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The revelation builds on CNN’s previous reporting that OAN President Charles Herring forwarded the purported Smartmatic passwords to ex-Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell within days and later passed it to Mike Lindell. OAN denies defaming Smartmatic or anyone else, and its lawyers say nobody at OAN broke the law in connection with the alleged passwords. In a recent court filing, Smartmatic publicly disclosed – for the first time – the original email that OAN received on January 5, 2021, containing the alleged passwords. If you come across any addition (sic) information, please pass along,” according to emails made public in court filings. OAN handed over the emails to Smartmatic last year, but later claimed they were privileged and should be returned.

Persons: Charles Herring, Sidney Powell, Mike Lindell, Joe Biden, Smartmatic, OAN, defaming Smartmatic, Eric Coomer, Herring, tipster, –, ”, Powell, …, It’s, ’ Smartmatic, OAN “, Carl Butzer, “, Moxila Upadhyaya, OAN’s, Charles Babcock, Upadhyaya, Babcock, Oprah Winfrey, Bill O’Reilly, Phil Organizations: CNN, America, Trump, Voting Systems, Court, Fox News Locations: DC

☆ How Trump's 'I'm rich!' boasts are coming back to bite him in court
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Laura Italiano | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The day before awarding Carroll $83.3 million in damages — Trump's penance for calling her a lying "whack job" when she told the world he'd sexually assaulted her — jurors heard, firsthand, how rich he was. AdvertisementTrump's "I'm rich" boasts hurt him in both the Carroll verdict and the upcoming fraud trial verdict, Snell said. Punitive damages in defamation cases are supposed to have a deterrent effect, to stop the defamation from happening again. AdvertisementTrump's wealth also illustrates why the jury imposed enormous punitive damages compared to the $18.3 million to compensate Carroll. The Carroll jury also heard Trump boast about the value of his "brand."

Persons: Donald Trump's, Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, Carroll, Roberta Kaplan, Trump, Letitia James, I'm, Tristan Snell, General's, Snell, Trump's, —, Kaplan, J, Erik Connolly, Connolly, Stephanie Keith, There's, We've, that's, Forbes, Timothy A, Clary, didn't, Chris Mattei, Alex Jones, Mattei, Arthur Engoron, Engoron Organizations: Carroll, Trump, New York Attorney, New, New York, Trump University, Disney, Benesch, NEW, Manhattan Federal Court, E, MSNBC, Trump Organization, Forbes, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Manhattan, Smartmatic, New York City, AFP, New York

☆ Pro-Trump network OAN execs may have ‘engaged in criminal activities’ while promoting 2020 election lies, Smartmatic alleges
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN pieced together who was involved in the email exchanges by examining court records from three separate cases stemming from the 2020 election. Baseless 2020 smearsSmartmatic has sued OAN, Powell, and other Trump allies and right-wing outlets, seeking billions of dollars in damages for their 2020 election lies. It’s unclear if the spreadsheet has any connections to the breach in rural Coffee County - which used software from Dominion Voting Systems, and not Smartmatic, in the 2020 election. One of its correspondents, who is also an attorney, even worked with Trump’s legal team to subvert the 2020 election results. The network, the two Herrings, and some of their on-air personalities are also being sued for defamation by Dominion, which was the target of similar 2020 election lies.

Persons: Trump, Sidney Powell, OAN, Smartmatic, “, Powell, Charles Herring, Herring, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “ OAN, ‘, ”, Charles Babcock, Babcock, Erik Connolly, Trump’s, Robert Herring, Mike Lindell, Lindell, Charles, Lindell didn’t, Eric Coomer Organizations: CNN, America News, Smartmatic, Trump, OAN, Fox News, ” CNN, Dominion Voting Systems, Russian, Dominion, Lindell, DirecTV Locations: Philippines, Smartmatic, Coffee County, Coffee, Ukraine

☆ Rudy Giuliani has claimed that Donald Trump could owe him 'unpaid legal fees' in a new filing
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewDonald Trump's former lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has suggested the former president has not paid some of his legal fees in a new bankruptcy filing. He listed a "possible claim for unpaid legal fees against Donald J. Trump" in response to a question about any potential outstanding claims but did not specify how much he might be owed. AdvertisementThe New York Times previously reported that Giuliani had repeatedly unsuccessfully appealed to Trump to pay his overdue legal fees. His recent efforts to raise money for legal fees resulted in him netting just $1 million from 13 donors. On Friday, a federal jury saddled Trump with $83.3 million in damages in the E. Jean Carroll's defamation trial against him.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Rudy Giuliani, Donald J, Trump, Giuliani, Jean Carroll's Organizations: Service, Business, Court, Southern, of, New York Times, Trump, Voting Systems Locations: Georgia, York

A court filing shows that Giuliani owes more than $1.3 million to the law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron. The lawyer Robert Costello sued Giuliani in September for $1.36 million in unpaid legal fees dating to 2019. Giuliani had planned to raise some of his legal defense money at two of Trump's properties, Andrew Giuliani previously said. "Yes, I gave Rudy $100,000 for his legal defense PAC and I was happy to do so," Elizabeth Ailes told CNBC. And the real estate investment firm Probity International, which is run by Trump donor Robert Zarnegin, gave $35,000 to the Giuliani PAC.

Persons: Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump's, Andrew Giuliani, Caryn Borland, Giuliani, Borland, Caryn Hildenbrand, Caryn, Hildenbrand, Michael, Trump, Mike Pence, Caryn Borland's, Joe Biden, Davidoff Hutcher, Citron, Robert Costello, Elizabeth Ailes, Roger Ailes, Rudy, Ailes, Newsmax, Roger, Elizabeth, Donald Trump, Lewis Topper, Robert Zarnegin, Arnold Gumowitz, Andrew Giuliani's, Matthew Martorano, Martorano Organizations: New York, U.S, CNBC, Living Trust, Trump, Internal Revenue Service, The New York Times, Giuliani, Voting Systems, Washington , D.C, PAC, Fox, Fox News, Businessman, Probity International, Giuliani PAC, Trump Save America Locations: Washington , U.S, del Mar , California, Georgia, Washington ,, Bedminster

☆ In blow to Fox Corp., judge rules Smartmatic case over 2020 election lies can proceed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Cohen already let the case proceed against Fox News — and on Wednesday, he rejected a request by Fox Corporation to throw out the claims against the parent company. The parent corporation had argued that it shouldn’t be involved in the defamation case because it only had general oversight of Fox News itself. The case is still in the discovery phase, with some major depositions taking place in the past month, including former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch. The decision boosts Smartmatic’s case against the right-wing media behemoth. A similar 2020-related lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems was also allowed to proceed against Fox and its parent company.

Persons: David Cohen, Murdoch, Cohen, Fox, Smartmatic, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, ” Smartmatic, ” Cohen, “, defaming, ”, Erik Connolly, Rupert Murdoch, cravenly, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, couldn’t, ” Fox Organizations: CNN, Fox Corporation, Fox News, Manhattan, Fox ) Corp, Fox Corp, Fox, Dominion Voting Systems, Trump, Wednesday, Smartmatic, “ Locations: New York, York, Florida

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — MyPillow chief executive and prominent election denier Mike Lindell said Friday that Fox News has stopped running his company's commercials, disputing the network's assertion that it is simply because he hasn't paid his bills. Lindell went public by tweeting that Fox, which had been one of MyPillow's biggest advertising outlets, had canceled him. Several big-box retailers, including Walmart, have discontinued his products, and lawyers who were defending him against defamation lawsuits by voting machine companies quit. In an interview with The Associated Press, Lindell acknowledged that MyPillow owes money to Fox. He said MyPillow has long spent an average of $1 million a week to run its ads on Fox.

Persons: —, Mike Lindell, hasn't, Lindell, Fox, Donald Trump’s, ” Fox, Irena Briganti, MyPillow, Lou Dobbs, Trump, Dobbs, ”, it's, ‘, ’ Organizations: Fox News, Fox, Walmart, “, Associated Press, Fox Business, Systems, Dominion Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota

Tennis - US Open - Mens Final - New York, U.S. - September 10, 2017 - Rupert Murdoch, chairman of Fox Corp, stands before Rafael Nadal of Spain plays against Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Florida-based Smartmatic is seeking damages from Fox Corp, Fox News and five individuals: Rudolph Giuliani and Sidney Powell, who were lawyers for Republican former President Donald Trump; and Fox hosts Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro. But by establishing that he was involved in making decisions about Fox's coverage, Smartmatic would have a better chance of proving that Fox Corp is liable. In order to prevail in a defamation case, Smartmatic must prove that Fox knowingly spread false information or recklessly disregarded the truth, the standard known as "actual malice." Fox Corp and Fox News in April settled for $787.5 million another defamation lawsuit, brought by voting technology firm Dominion Voting Systems.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson of, Mike Segar, Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, Rudolph Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Donald Trump, Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, Smartmatic, Joe Biden, Fox, Fox's, Helen Coster, Jack Queen, Will Dunham Organizations: Fox Corp, News Corp, Fox . Representatives, Fox News, Republican, Fox, Trump . Fox, Smartmatic, U.S, Voting, Dominion, Thomson Locations: York, U.S, Kevin Anderson of South Africa, Los Angeles, Florida, New York, American

☆ Rupert Murdoch to be deposed in Smartmatic’s election defamation case against Fox News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Rupert Murdoch is set to be deposed on Tuesday in voting technology company Smartmatic’s mammoth $2.7 billion election defamation lawsuit against Fox News, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. Murdoch founded Fox News and served as executive chairman of Fox Corporation, Fox News’ parent company, until earlier this month, when the 92-year-old media baron transitioned to chairman emeritus, crowning his son Lachlan as king of his media empire. A spokesperson for Fox Corporation declined to comment, though the company has consistently said it plans to vigorously fight the lawsuit. Smartmatic filed its lawsuit against Fox Corporation in 2021 after it was swept up in baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. In April, Fox Corporation reached a historic $787 million settlement in a similar election lies case filed by another voting technology company, Dominion Voting Systems.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Murdoch, Lachlan, Smartmatic, Donald Trump, “ Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Reuters, Fox Corporation, New York State, “, Dominion Voting Systems Locations: Los Angeles, New York

☆ Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch deposed in Smartmatic election lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp and co-chairman of 21st Century Fox, arrives at the Sun Valley Resort of the annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, July 10, 2018 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Rupert Murdoch is being deposed Tuesday as part of the $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit filed against Fox Corp. by the voting technology company Smartmatic, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC. It is the second time this year that Murdoch, 92, has been deposed in a high-stakes defamation lawsuit accusing Fox News of airing damaging lies about the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Fox paid $787.5 million to settle Dominion's lawsuit, nearly half of the $1.6 billion figure initially demanded by the voting company. Murdoch officially stepped down as chairman of Fox and News Corp. earlier this month, putting his son Lachlan in charge of both.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Murdoch, Donald Trump, Fox, Joe Biden, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, Lou Dobbs, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Lachlan, Brian Nick, CNBC's Organizations: News Corp, Century Fox, Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, Fox Corp, CNBC, Fox News, Dominion Voting Systems, Fox, Trump, New York Supreme Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, Los Angeles, New York, York

☆ Judge shuts down Fox bid to look for links between George Soros and Smartmatic
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice David B. Cohen rejected Fox Corp. and Fox News’ attempts to subpoena George Soros, his son Alex Soros, and their philanthropic organization Open Society Foundation (OSF) for documents related to the election defamation case. Fox argued that Alex and George Soros, as well as OSF, possess material necessary to the network’s defense in the defamation trial. The documentation, Fox argued, would establish a connection between George Soros and Smartmatic. “I base that on the finding that the crux of Smartmatic’s claims is that Fox has asserted they were part of rigging [the election], not that Smartmatic was affiliated with George Soros, Alex Soros, or the OSF,” Cohen said. “We’re interested in the closeness of the relationship, what Soros has done for Smartmatic over time,” Marks said.

Persons: George Soros, David B, Cohen, Fox News ’, Alex Soros, Soros, Fox, Alex, Smartmatic, ” Cohen, “, ”, ” Smartmatic, George, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Trump, Sidney Powell, ” Aaron Marks, Mark Malloch, Brown, Giuliani, Powell, “ We’re, ” Marks, Marks, Benjamin McCallen, “ They’re, ” McCallen Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Manhattan, Fox Corp, Open Society Foundation, OSF, Fox, New, Soros, Trump Locations: York, Smartmatic, New York

☆ Sidney Powell pushes claims that 2020 election was rigged and prosecutors 'extorted' her after she pleaded guilty to election interference
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to election interference in Georgia's criminal case last week. On social media, she has continued to push claims that the 2020 election was rigged and prosecutors target conservatives. She also shared a post about a survey that claimed many Democrats believe "cheating affected the outcome of the 2020 election." Chesebro and Powell have both pleaded guilty in the Fulton County election interference case. Fulton County sheriff's officeNeither Powell nor a representative for the Fulton County district attorney's office responded to a request for comment.

Persons: Sidney Powell, Powell, —, Joe Biden's, Fani Willis, Willis, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, Trump, Dinesh D'Souza, Dan Bongino, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, D'Souza, Tim Fitton, Fitton, Biden, John Eastman, couldn't, Steve Sadow, Powell's, Mugshots, Kenneth Chesebro, Chesebro, Ronald Carlson, Carlson, Michael Flynn, Trump's, Flynn, Mike Flynn Organizations: Service, Trump, Strike Force, House, Dominion, Twitter, Police, Trump Justice Department, Truth Social, Federalist, University of Georgia School of Law, FBI, Fascist Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Coffee County, California, Atlanta, Republic, Fulton, United States

☆ Sidney Powell could finally be disbarred after pleading guilty, but she has a dark money org to fall back on
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Trump lawyer Sidney Powell has been subject to sanctions and an ongoing disbarment effort. A Texas legal ethics practitioner said this kind of case should lead to "automatic disbarment." Powell flipped on Donald Trump and pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts related to the 2020 election in Georgia on Friday morning. Bob Bennett, a Texas lawyer with experience defending other attorneys in disciplinary cases, believes she should finally be disbarred. Financial statements for the group say the only related-party transaction is paying an LLC owned by Powell $120,000 for rent.

Persons: Trump, Sidney Powell, —, Sidney Powell's, Powell, Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Rudy Giuliani, Bob Bennett, Biden, Renee Knake Jefferson, Sidney, Bennett, Claire Reynolds, disbar Powell, DTR, it's Organizations: Service, Biden's, Trump, University of Houston Law, US, Office, Western, Western District of, Texas Office, Voting Systems, Washington Post Locations: Texas, Republic, Georgia, Fulton County, Michigan, Wisconsin, Western District, Western District of Texas, Florida

☆ Sidney Powell: Former Trump attorney pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Former Donald Trump attorney Sidney Powell has pleaded guilty in the Georgia election subversion case, one day before her trial was set to start. As part of her guilty plea, Powell is admitting her role in the January 2021 breach of election systems in rural Coffee County, Georgia. Bail bondsman Scott Hall last month pleaded guilty and agreed to testify at future trials. Legal jeopardy elsewhereBeyond the Georgia case, Powell is still facing legal headaches. She is an unindicted co-conspirator in the federal election subversion case that special counsel Jack Smith filed against Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sidney Powell, Powell, Trump, Bail bondsman Scott, ’, They’ve, ”, Elie Honig, you’re, Honig, Misty Hampton, Hampton, Judge McAfee, Kenneth Chesebro, Chesebro, Jack Smith Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Trump . Fulton, Voting Systems Corporation, ” CNN, “ News, Dominion Voting Systems Locations: Georgia, Coffee County , Georgia, Fulton, Venezuela, Coffee

☆ Fox’s top lawyer blasts judge in Dominion case, says trial would’ve been ‘months of utter pain’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Viet Dinh, former Chief Legal and Policy Officer for Fox Corporation. Dinh said Davis issued “really illogical” rulings in the pretrial phase, which “hamstrung” Fox’s defense strategy. This artist sketch depicts Judge Eric Davis of Delaware Superior Court on the bench Monday, April 17, 2023, in Wilmington, Delaware. Elizabeth Williams/APThe judge ruled that none of Fox’s on-air statements about Dominion were true and rejected Fox’s attempts to throw the case out. Dominion made many of these messages public through court filings, and they painted an incredibly damning picture of Fox News.

Persons: CNN —, Viet Dinh, Eric Davis, ” Dinh, –, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Fox, Dinh, Davis, ”, Eric Davis of, Elizabeth Williams, Fox’s, Tucker Carlson, “ Organizations: CNN, Fox, Dominion Voting Systems, Fox Corporation, Delaware, Harvard Law, ” Dominion, Fox News, Eric Davis of Delaware Superior Court, Dominion, Harvard Locations: Viet, Delaware, Wilmington , Delaware, Smartmatic

☆ Mike Lindell’s lawyers in Dominion lawsuit seek to quit case over millions of dollars in unpaid legal fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Attorneys representing conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell and his company MyPillow in a defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems asked to withdraw from the case on Thursday after Lindell allegedly racked up millions in unpaid legal fees. In a court filing, Minnesota-based Parker Daniels Kibort said both Lindell and MyPillow have not paid the firm for its work on the case and won’t be able to pay future fees and costs. But Lindell was adamant that he would not settle with Dominion or Smartmatic, another election technology company suing him for defamation. The court must grant the attorneys’ motion to withdraw before they can formally drop Lindell and MyPillow as clients. Attorneys for Dominion did not have a position regarding the motion when it was filed, the court filing shows.

Persons: Mike Lindell, Lindell, Parker Daniels Kibort, MyPillow, won’t, “, ”, —, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Steve Bannon’s Organizations: CNN, Dominion Voting Systems, Dominion, Lindell, Fox Locations: Minnesota

☆ MyPillow lawyers say CEO Mike Lindell owes them millions of dollars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Dareh Gregorian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow Inc., speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. The attorneys defending Mike Lindell and his business against defamation claims from voting machine companies are seeking to sever ties with the "MyPillow Guy" over millions of dollars in unpaid legal fees. "At this time, Defendants are in arrears by millions of dollars to PDK," the filing said. The firm said that if it was forced to continue providing legal services to Lindell, the "future fees and costs will amount to millions of dollars in addition to the millions of dollars already owed." Lindell is not the only Trump ally facing an action on unpaid legal fees tied to false claims about the 2020 election.

Persons: Mike Lindell, Guy, Parker Daniels Kibort, Lindell, MyPillow, Eric Coomer, Lindell's, wasn't, he'd, Robert Zeidman, Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Robert Costello, Giuliani, who's, He's, Andrew Giuliani, they'd Organizations: Conservative Political, Lindell, Voting Systems, Dominion, NBC News, Newsweek, Software, NBC, New, New York City, Smartmatic, Trump White House, WABC Locations: Dallas , Texas, Minneapolis , MN, Lindell, New York, Dominion, Georgia, Fulton County, New York City

☆ Mike Lindell says MyPillow's now facing multiple IRS audits
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Mike Lindell said MyPillow is facing multiple IRS audits. Lindell claimed on the "War Room" podcast that the audits concerned call center staff. AdvertisementAdvertisementMyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says his pillow company is now facing five audits from the IRS. "This is something that hasn't happened in 15 years, and all of a sudden there's 5 IRS audits against MyPillow in three different years," Lindell told Bannon. Last month, Lindell claimed that MyPillow was financially crippled after American Express slashed its credit line.

Persons: Mike Lindell, MyPillow, Lindell, —, Steve Bannon, Steve, Bannon, they're, Donald Trump's Organizations: Service, IRS, MyPillow, Trump, American Express, Lindell, Voting Systems Locations: California, MyPillow, Smartmatic

For Lachlan Murdoch, this moment has been a long time coming. On Thursday, his father Rupert Murdoch announced that in November he'll step down as the head of his two media companies: News Corp. and Fox Corp. Lachlan will become the chair of News Corp. while remaining chief executive and chair at Fox Corp., the parent of Fox News Channel. In Murdoch World, as in the fictional world of the Roy family, seemingly sure things can go sideways in an instant, particularly when unexpected opportunities arise. Lachlan Murdoch has lived that first hand. Lachlan Murdoch has drawn criticism from media watchdogs for what many called Fox News' increasingly conspiratorial and misinformation-promoting broadcasts.

Persons: Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan, James, Elisabeth, Rupert, Rupert Murdoch's, ”, Roy, Paddy Manning, Roger Ailes, ” Manning, “, I'm, Murdoch, Manning, Lachlan Murdoch's, James ., Ailes, Fox, Smartmatic, Kathryn Murdoch Organizations: News Corp, Fox Corp, Fox News Channel, Murdoch, Princeton, Fox News, News, British, Voting Systems, AP Locations: London, New York City, Australia, Australian, U.S

☆ Rupert Murdoch, a kingmaker in GOP politics, enriched himself as he poisoned America
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Rupert Murdoch’s reign over the insidious right-wing media kingdom he forged into existence over a decades-long career is coming to a close. Murdoch is a strategic thinker and ruthless businessman, who would have given the timing of his exit immense thought. Is the announcement an indication that Murdoch is attempting to further cement his son, Lachlan, as his successor? The other question is: How will this transition impact the organization of Murdoch’s companies? And the biggest question of all: Does Murdoch have some additional surprises left up his sleeve?

Persons: Rupert Murdoch’s, Murdoch, “, Murdoch bashed, ”, ” Murdoch, —, Donald Trump, Lachlan, Will Lachlan Organizations: CNN, Fox Corporation, News Corporation, Fox News, Fox, Voting Systems, Dominion, News Corporations Locations: cahoots, Smartmatic

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