'False news has consequences': Former Fox exec proposes FCC 'review' Rupert Murdoch’s licenses
2023 has been a rough year for Fox News. In addition to firing its most popular host, Tucker Carlson, the right-wing cable news outlet agreed to pay $787.5 million to settle a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems.
Dominion's attorneys went to court armed with countless e-mails and text messages from Fox News hosts acknowledging that the 2020 presidential election was not stolen from former President Donald Trump. Regardless, Fox News had promoted, on the air, the false and repeatedly debunked claim that Dominion's voting equipment was used to help now-President Joe Biden steal the election.
Dominion went to court with a mountain of evidence showing that a major disparity between what Fox News employees said on the air and what they said behind closed doors. And by paying $787.5 million, Fox News avoided a six-week trial.
READ MORE: George Will: Fox News’ $787.5 million Dominion settlement was 'good for the law'
Fox News' legal worries aren't over. Dominion competitor Smartmatic is still pursuing its $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit.
In an op-ed published by the Daily Beast on June 14, former Fox Broadcasting exec Preston Padden wonders if perhaps the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should "review" Rupert Murdoch's licenses in light of the lies that Fox News promoted.
"I was a Fox executive from 1990 to 1997, helping to build Fox Broadcasting Company, the long sought fourth free-over-the-air commercial TV network," Padden explains. "I successfully secured for Fox, and its principal Rupert Murdoch, waivers of numerous laws and regulations necessary/helpful to launch Fox Broadcasting…. In my time at Fox, I greatly admired Rupert, whose vision and boldness made our good work possible."
Padden, however, is obviously appalled that Fox News promoted false claims about the 2020 election even though Murdoch knew they were lies.
READ MORE: 'License to lie': Media Matters scorches Fox News' settlement with Dominion
"In a months-long series of e-mail exchanges, I tried to get Rupert to stop the false news on Fox News Channel," Padden notes. "Without my knowledge, Fox produced those e-mails as part of discovery in the Dominion case. I would not otherwise share them here…. False news has consequences."
Padden continues, "Despite all the factual information available to the contrary, millions of Americans, including Fox viewers, believe that the 2020 election was stolen. The rioters at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 were chanting 'Stop the Steal.'"
The former Fox exec stresses that knowingly promoting lies about an election is an embarrassment to broadcast journalism.
"It is hard to imagine an issue that more directly impacts a broadcast licensee’s character qualifications," Padden argues. "Can anyone imagine Walter Cronkite, Peter Jennings, or Tom Brokaw — and their bosses Bill Paley, Tom Murphy and Jack Welch — knowingly and repeatedly presenting false news? It simply is unimaginable."
Padden adds, "So, the issue at hand is: Should the FCC review Fox’s character qualifications to remain a steward of the public airwaves? Just asking the question."
READ MORE: Smartmatic attorney expects 'full retraction' from Fox News along with a sizable payout
