Story perspectives

Jeanine Pirro's Testimony Undermines Fox News Election Claims

8/29/2025

Summary

Story summary

Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host, testified that she does not believe Smartmatic rigged the 2020 election.
Her statement contradicts earlier claims made on-air and supports Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit against Fox News.
The lawsuit reveals internal warnings at Fox News about the accuracy of election fraud allegations.
Trump faces criticism for proposing to send the National Guard to Chicago, seen as a power grab.
Fox News viewers are frustrated with the network's focus on non-political stories, highlighting audience divides.

History

Historical Context

The 1964 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan established the "actual malice" standard, protecting media reporting on public figures from defamation lawsuits. This precedent is significant as the current Smartmatic lawsuit against Fox News questions the network's coverage of the 2020 election, potentially reshaping media accountability and public trust in journalism.

1 of 2

Story summary

Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host, testified that she does not believe Smartmatic rigged the 2020 election.
Her statement contradicts earlier claims made on-air and supports Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit against Fox News.
The lawsuit reveals internal warnings at Fox News about the accuracy of election fraud allegations.
Trump faces criticism for proposing to send the National Guard to Chicago, seen as a power grab.
Fox News viewers are frustrated with the network's focus on non-political stories, highlighting audience divides.

1 / 2