A former Fox News reporter alleges in a lawsuit that he was fired for challenging false claims about the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
In the suit filed in federal court Monday, producer Jason Donner said he was part of a group of employees who refused to report only information that would appease former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
Donner, who was present in the Capitol during the riot, objected to the network’s reporting that rioters were “peaceful” and “severely disappointed.” He expressed his concerns to the control room, warning that the network’s coverage could endanger lives.
Fox News declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Donner also disputed Tucker Carlson’s program “Patriot Purge,” which argued that Jan. 6 was used as a pretext for persecuting conservative Americans.
According to the lawsuit, Fox managers accused Donner of being irresponsible for calling in sick once while recovering from a COVID-19 vaccine. He was eventually fired in 2022.
Donner, who was once a Republican and later affiliated with Democrats, claims he was discriminated against and retaliated against due to his political views. He is seeking unspecified damages.
The lawsuit was initially filed in Washington, D.C.’s Superior Court, and later moved to federal court.
Fox also settled a lawsuit this year with Dominion Voting Systems for nearly $800 million. The network is also facing a suit from a second voting-machine company.
Fox also paid $12 million to settle with another former producer who alleged a discriminatory workplace and coercion in the Dominion suit.
A former Trump supporter involved in a conspiracy theory about Jan. 6 has sued the network, claiming he was made a scapegoat for the riot.
