Fox Executives Call U.S. Attorney Pirro ‘Reckless Maniac’ in Defamation Lawsuit

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and former Fox News star, was privately disparaged by several Fox executives in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, being described as "insane," a "reckless maniac," and someone who has a "tendency to find random conspiracy theories on weird internet sites." These criticisms surfaced in court documents from a defamation lawsuit by voting machine company Smartmatic against Fox News, which alleges that Fox anchors, including Pirro, spread falsehoods about its products following President Trump's defeat. Fox has denied the claims, citing journalistic good faith and asserting that Smartmatic's damages were inflated, especially after some of Smartmatic's executives faced bribery indictments. Despite these internal doubts, Pirro was appointed by President Trump as U.S. Attorney for D.C., where she has become a prominent figure in his federal law enforcement efforts in the city, including controversial prosecutions related to protests and federal agent deployments. Her tenure has drawn criticism for perceived overreach and politicization, and some legal experts suggest her new role will test her ability to separate partisan rhetoric from legal responsibility. Pirro declined to comment on the reports, and Fox News has defended its press freedoms amid ongoing litigation.