A new court filing in the defamation lawsuit against Fox News provides a fresh insight into President Donald Trump's efforts to address his supporters as the Capitol riot unfolded on January 6th, 2021. The court filing includes emails from Fox News Network executives and staff that show the network was aware of the situation and took steps to prevent the President from being put on air.
The emails reveal that Fox executives were aware of the situation and took steps to prevent President Trump from being put on air. They also show that the network continued to air election fraud conspiracy theories despite privately mocking them.
The emails indicate that Fox News Network executives were concerned about the President's potential to incite more violence, with one email stating: "Any move to put him on the air will be seen as a direct incitement of violence and the network will be held responsible." The emails also show that the network was aware of the potential danger of allowing the President to speak, with one email stating that "putting him on the air is a massive risk."
The emails also reveal how Fox News Network executives discussed how to handle the situation as the riot was unfolding. They discussed the possibility of having the President speak via telephone and considered airing pre-recorded video from him. Ultimately, the decision was made not to put the President on the air.
Despite the network's decision not to put the President on the air, the emails reveal that Fox News Network continued to air election fraud conspiracy theories despite privately mocking them. The emails show that the network's executives and staff were aware of the reality of the situation, but chose to continue to air the conspiracy theories nonetheless.
The court filing provides a new insight into President Trump's efforts to address his supporters as the Capitol riot unfolded, as well as how Fox News Network executives and staff decided to handle the situation. It also reveals how the network continued to air election fraud conspiracy theories despite privately mocking them.