Fox and Dominion Voting Systems reached a $787.5 million settlement Tuesday.
The settlement agreement between Fox and Dominion Voting Systems amounted to a warning shot for other media companies that may spread falsehoods, CEO of Dominion Voting Systems John Poulos said on Wednesday.
“I think that it’s a big step forward in democracy if our system can send a signal that if media companies lie — whoever they are or whatever channel they’re on — and they do so knowingly, they will be prepared to pay a very high price,” Poulos told George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday.
Poulos’ statements came a day after his company reached a settlement agreement in its high-profile defamation suit against Fox.
A representative of Fox News carries as box as they arrive at the justice center in Wilmington, Del., for the Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit against Fox News, Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
Matt Rourke/AP
Fox agreed to a $787.5 million settlement in the suit, which had sought $1.6 billion in damages. The suit had accused Fox News of recklessly airing false election claims and conspiracy theories in the wake of the 2020 presidential election.
“For us, it was never really about Fox, per se, it was about the media telling the truth,” Poulos said on “GMA.”
Speaking outside the courtroom on Tuesday after the settlement was announced, Poulos said that Fox had “admitted to telling lies about Dominion,” although it wasn’t immediately clear whether Fox officials had agreed in the settlement to make such an admission.
This artist sketch depicts Dominion Voting Systems attorney Justin Nelson, left, conferring with Fox News attorney Daniel Webb, as the lawyers waited in Delaware Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, April 18, 2023, in Wilmington, Del.
Elizabeth Williams via AP
“Truth matters. Lies have consequences,” Justin Nelson, an attorney for Dominion Voting Systems, said as he announced details of the company’s settlement with Fox News during a press conference following the court’s adjournment.
“At the end of the day, the court system is really about accountability. We feel we got it,” Poulos said on “GMA” on Wednesday.
Fox News said in a statement after the agreement was announed that it was “pleased” to have reach the settlement.
“We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false,” the statement said. “This settlement reflects FOX’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards.”
ABC News’ Aaron Katersky, John Santucci, Olivia Rubin and Lucien Bruggeman contributed to this report.
