Leaked Messages from Fox News Executive Confirm Promotion of Election Lies and Conspiracies
Fox News' Coverage of 2020 Election Comes Under Scrutiny After Leaked Messages Surface
Recently leaked text messages from a senior Fox News executive reveal how the conservative media outlet promoted lies and conspiracies about the 2020 presidential election. The messages, obtained by The New Yorker, were sent by the channel's Washington managing editor, Bill Sammon, in the aftermath of the November 3rd election.
In one message, Sammon instructed his staff to "stay away from any allegations regarding the election results" and to "not get ahead of our [Fox News] own reporting". However, just hours later, Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson went on air and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election, claiming without evidence that there had been widespread voter fraud.
Other messages show how Fox News was aware that the claims being made by former President Donald Trump and his allies about election fraud were baseless, but still pushed them to their audience. In one message, Sammon acknowledged that the network had "no hard evidence" to support the allegations of voter fraud, but said that they were "trying to get to the bottom of it".
Below are additional important disclosures found in the court documents:
During the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, tensions between former President Donald Trump and Fox News ran high after the network called Arizona for President Joe Biden. Trump lashed out at the network, accusing it of disloyalty and lying.
On November 5, Fox’s Chief Political Correspondent Bret Baier stated privately that “There is NO evidence of fraud. None.” Similarly, host Tucker Carlson texted his producer Alex Pfeiffer on the same day, expressing concerns about Trump’s potential impact on the network, stating, “What [Trump]’s good at is destroying things. He’s the undisputed world champion of that. He could easily destroy us if we play it wrong.”
By November 8, 2020, Rupert Murdoch had met with his son Lachlan Murdoch, Fox Corporation CEO, and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott to discuss the growing backlash from viewers towards the network. They agreed to air “wild claims” of election fraud to win back viewers, despite the lack of evidence to support these claims.
As the weeks passed, internal polling indicated that Fox News was facing strong conservative and viewer backlash. Fox reporters who were perceived to be insufficiently pro-Trump in their coverage were criticized by executives.
Following the Capitol insurrection on January 6, Carlson texted Pfeiffer, acknowledging the destructive nature of Trump, but expressing confidence that the network would not be destroyed by him, stating, “He’s a demonic force, a destroyer. But he’s not going to destroy us.”
The messages also shed light on how Fox News was in close communication with the Trump campaign during the election. Sammon reportedly sent a message to the campaign's senior adviser Jason Miller, congratulating him on a "great job" and telling him that he was "proud to work alongside" him.
The revelations are just the latest in a series of scandals involving Fox News and its coverage of the 2020 election. The network was criticized for its early call of Arizona for Joe Biden, which angered Trump and his supporters, and for continuing to spread false information about the election even after the results had been certified.
By promoting baseless claims about election fraud, Fox News helped to fuel the anger and division that culminated in the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. Fox News, like all news organizations, has a responsibility to report the truth and to provide accurate information to the public. When news outlets fail to meet this standard, it undermines democracy and threatens the safety and well-being of citizens.
In the wake of the leaked messages, Fox News has attempted to distance itself from the claims made by its hosts and guests about election fraud. The network has also faced calls for accountability from lawmakers and media watchdogs.
However, it remains to be seen whether the revelations will have any lasting impact on Fox News or the broader media landscape. The rise of partisan news outlets and the decline of traditional journalism have created a fertile environment for conspiracy theories and false information to thrive.
Ultimately, it will be up to individuals and society as a whole to demand greater accountability and to support news organizations that prioritize factual reporting over political agendas. The future of democracy depends on it.