Fired Fox Producer Wants To Recant Testimony

A  newly fired Fox News producer is seeking to recant testimony she said network lawyers coerced her into providing as Fox defends against Dominion Voting Systems' $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit, reports Reuters.

Abby Grossberg said Fox's lawyers left her feeling she "had to do everything possible to avoid becoming the 'star witness' for Dominion or else I would be seriously jeopardizing my career at Fox News."

The former producer for Maria Bartiromo's Sunday morning show and later Tucker Carlson's prime-time show made the accusation as she filed amended lawsuits in Manhattan federal court and Delaware Superior Court accusing Fox of discrimination, retaliation, sexism and misogyny.

Grossberg said Fox fired her on Friday, four days after she originally sued and was put on administrative leave.

Abby Grossberg

She also filed complaints against Fox on Monday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New York City Commission on Human Rights.

Fox, part of Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corp, said Grossberg "ignored" its warning that she might lose her job if she revealed privileged communications with lawyers.

It also said it would defend against Grossberg's legal claims, which were "riddled with false allegations against Fox and our employees."

Fox has also said its coverage of election claims was protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

The network is defending in the Delaware court against Dominion's lawsuit accusing the network of repeatedly and knowingly airing false claims linking its voting machines to widespread fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Grossberg wants to correct or add to 31 statements from her Sept. 14 deposition in that case that she said were tainted by Fox lawyers' "impermissible coaching and coercion."

She said she suppressed her view that Fox executives tracked ratings closely, and Fox would make more money by appealing to more viewers who "agree with what they are watching."

Late Monday, Fox News gave Media Confidential the following on the record statement:

“Like most organizations, FOX News Media’s attorneys engage in privileged communications with our employees as necessary to provide legal advice. Last week, our attorneys advised Ms. Grossberg that, while she was free to file whatever legal claims she wished, she was in possession of our privileged information and was not authorized to disclose it publicly. We were clear that if she violated our instructions, Fox would take appropriate action including termination. Ms. Grossberg ignored these communications and chose to file her complaint without taking any steps to protect those portions containing Fox's privileged information. We will continue to vigorously defend Fox against Ms. Grossberg's unmeritorious legal claims, which are riddled with false allegations against Fox and our employees.”