Another fallout ensued for Fox News in the wake of its coverage of the 2020 election. A lawsuit was filed by former FOX Capitol Hill reporter, Jason Donner who was dismissed from the network in September of 2022. Law & Crime first brought attention to Donner’s lawsuit, in which the former reporter asserts he was terminated as retaliation for his Democratic political affiliation, in violation of DC’s Human Rights Act.
The proceedings have since been moved to federal court on the basis of diversity. Donner maintains his dismissal was a pretextual firing based on his political views and affiliation, his disavowal of false reporting on the 2020 election and January 6th, as well as his engaging in protected activity, as per his complaint. He alleges that Fox News aimed to purge its news division of any staff that would not align with the directive to only report information gratifying to Trump supporters and former President Trump himself.
According to Donner, Fox altered its approach in 2021 in response to backlash from its audience over the election night announcement of Arizona for Joe Biden. To regain viewership and demonstrate its loyalty to President Trump, Fox News purged its news division and those reporters who voiced opposition to election fraud claims. Concurrently, Fox News transitioned its 7 p.m. hour from news-focused to opinion-centered programming.
Donner, currently employed by Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, claimed that he faced opposition from his bosses in 2020 for fact-checking Rudy Giuliani’s fraudulent claims about election fraud. Giuliani had made these false assertions at the infamous RNC press conference where his hair dye appeared to leak.
Later, Fox permitted Tucker Carlson to produce a three-part series for its streaming network, inflating outlandish theories about a government plot to stimulate rioting at the Capitol. This project features in the defamation suit filed by former Oath Keeper Ray Epps, whom Carlson falsely described as a federal agent. In Donner’s lawsuit, it’s stated that he participated in reporting discrediting Carlson’s claims and consequently, painted a target on his back with upper management.
In September 2022, following illness caused by a COVID booster shot, Donner was dismissed from the network allegedly on the grounds of tardiness and unauthorized absences. His case brings to mind a similar claim by Abby Grossberg, a former producer for Carlson and Maria Bartiromo, who claimed that a hostile work environment at Fox led to her developing physical ailments. Grossberg recently settled her claims for $12 million.
Framing his complaint in five counts, Donner alleges unlawful termination and infringements of the DC Human Rights Act and the DC Sick and Safe Leave Act. While no specific damages have been sought, Donner is pursuing compensatory, punitive, and equitable relief. Only time will reveal whether Lachlan Murdoch will approach this litigation risk differently than his father.
For the complete dossier of the case Donner v. Fox News Network LLC.