Smartmatic Seeks $2.7B from Fox over Election Fraud Claims

Private text messages from Jeanine Pirro, a current U.S. Attorney and former Fox News anchor, were revealed amid Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News for spreading false claims about the 2020 election. These texts show Pirro criticizing her Fox colleague Sean Hannity as an "egomaniac" for his behavior in the White House and bragging about her efforts to support President Trump and the Republican Party through her show. The messages also suggest Pirro sought to maintain Trump's favor, possibly to secure a pardon for her ex-husband. Fox News has denied the allegations and maintains Smartmatic's lawsuit lacks merit, highlighting prior legal and reputational challenges faced by Smartmatic. The lawsuit follows Fox's $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, another voting machine company implicated in similar election fraud claims. These leaked texts provide insight into internal Fox discussions amid ongoing legal battles surrounding election misinformation.