we re back and right now the potentially historic defamation trial against fox news is under way. you can see the massive team of lawyers all heading into the courtroom, dominion voting systems seeking $1.6 billion in damages from fox news. and fox corporation for pushing false claims that the voting system company rigged the 2020 election there are all kinds of conspiracy series attached to that can dominion convince a jury that fox acted with actual malice when it aired those false claims fox argues this case is really about protecting the first amendment right to cover the news joining us now to discuss all of this, nbc news correspondent emilie ikeda outside the court in wilmington, delaware, former u.s. attorney harry litman, and former florida republican congressman carlos curbelo you were just inside the
defense for the false claims of election fraud fox news aired following the 2020 election. lawyers for the voting system company have presented internal communications and depositions that show fox executives and hosts knew the claims were false but aired them anyway. however, fox believes that it is completely covered by the first amendment and has asked the judge to dismiss the case. its lawyers argue that the network and its hosts were reporting on news-worthy allegations from newsworthy people, and that executives were not directly involved in airing any defamatory statements. the judge told the lawyers yesterday they would have to agree on live or video testimony from witnesses for their jury presentations. adding that he would prefer live witnesses. the washington post reports that rupert murdoch might be compelled to take the stand. earlier this week, fox s lawyer
when asked why fox continues to give a platform to continue to spout lies about dominion, rupert murdoch agrees it is not red or blue it is green. senior legal analyst, carrie. rupert murdoch underoath, this was about green, meaning money. we are going through a lot of this in the minutes ahead. does it meet the high bar of defamation? defamation cases have a very high standard. first amendment we are talking about here. people and organizations have to have flexibility to say things and not automatically turn out to be libel if they are wrong. defamation case with dominion, voting system company has to show there were false statements. they are going to provide evidence numerous false
20-year-old contract for a voting system company, just trying to do his job. his family is getting harassed no, there s a news out there with his name on it. it s not right. this kid took a job, he just took a job i can begin to explain the level of anger i have about this. every american, every georgian, every republican, democrat, should have the same level of anger. mister president, it looks like you likely lost the war investigating, there s always a possibility, i get, it you have the right to go for the courts. would you don t have the ability to do, and you need to step up and say, this stop inspiring people to give potential acts of violence. somebody is going to get, hurts and he s going to get. shots and he s going to get killed. it s not right. it was clear. all the way back in december
all gone to far. all of it. the fraud that broke the camel s back in this 20-year-old contract for a voting system company just trying to do his job. his family is getting harassed. there is a noose out there with his name on it. that s not right. this kid took a job. he just took a job. and it s just wrong. i can t begin to explain the level of averageer i have right now over this and every american many, republican and georgian alike should have that same level of anger. mr. president, it looks like you likely lost the state of georgia. we re investigating. there is always a possibility. i get it, you have the right to go to the court. you don t have the ability to do, you need to stop inspiring