Credit: Tom Sofiel/LevittownNow.com
A staffer for Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s office has filed a lawsuit against Fox News Channel over lies the network broadcast about the 2020 and claims that it “purged” journalists who pushed back on untruths.
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Jason Donner works for Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s office as a senior communications advisor. He joined the office in January 2023.
Donner said in court filings that he was fired by Fox News in late September 2022.
The lawsuit was first reported on Monday by The Daily Beast.
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Donner filed the lawsuit in federal court alleging the network dismissed journalists who refuted false election fraud claims post-2020 election.
The lawsuit claims Fox News aimed to regain viewers and appease former President Donald Trump by removing staff who opposed untrue statements that were being broadcast.
Following Trump’s criticism of Fox News for reporting his defeat, the network reportedly got rid of 20 staffers involved in confirming Trump’s loss.
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“To win back viewership and pledge its loyalty to President Trump, Fox’s corporate leadership purged the news division and those reporters who spoke out against claims of election fraud,” the lawsuit reads.
Text messages from Lachlan Murdoch, co-chair of News Corp., and Suzanne Scott, Fox News CEO, suggest efforts to align with viewers’ sentiments post-election.
Donner’s filing describes the network as hostile to journalists reporting truthfully during the period after the 2020 election and U.S. Capitol insurrection.
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Donner, who was at the Capitol during the insurrection, criticized the network’s portrayal of the rioters as “peaceful” while he hunkered down in the broadcast booth inside the building as attackers swarmed.
“I don’t want to hear any of this f*****g s*** on our air ever again because you’re gonna get us all killed,” Donner allegedly said to the Fox News control room.
The lawsuit also alleges Fox News aired a Tucker Carlson’s special that contained falsehoods and claims Donner was directed to report inaccurately in 2022.
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Donner had raised concerns with HR about the network’s false reporting and toxic environment.
This lawsuit follows Fox News’ $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over broadcasting false information after the 2020 election. The network admitted it aired false information in the wake of Trump’s election defeat.
Donner said in his lawsuit that he is a lifelong Republican who recently voted Democratic.
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Donner’s lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages and a judgment against Fox News for discrimination and retaliation.
Fitzpatrick was endorsed by Trump in 2020, but he was largely quiet in the weeks after Trump’s election loss. Fitzpatrick has acknowledged that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
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Donner, Fitzpatrick, and a Fox News spokesperson did not comment on the lawsuit.
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