Former Fox News reporter says in lawsuit he was fired after challenging Jan. 6 coverage

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A former Fox News correspondent has initiated a lawsuit in which he alleges that his termination from the network was a result of his resistance to disseminating false information regarding the events of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

In his lawsuit, Jason Donner, a producer for Fox News, contends that he was part of a group of employees who refused to adhere to a narrative that was designed to cater exclusively to the preferences of former President Donald Trump and his supporters. Donner, who was present at the Capitol during the breach by Trump supporters, took issue with Fox News characterizing the rioters as “peaceful” and “severely disappointed.” He urgently contacted the control room, using strong language, to express his concerns, stating, “you’re gonna get us all killed.”

Fox News has not yet provided a response to the lawsuit, according to a spokeswoman for the network.

Furthermore, Donner took it upon himself to debunk Tucker Carlson’s program on the Fox Nation streaming service titled “Patriot Purge,” which argued that the events of January 6 were utilized as a pretext for the persecution of conservative Americans. However, Fox management appeared to be more focused on appealing to Trump’s supporters. As Donner continued to voice his objections, he found himself targeted by a manager who accused him of irresponsibility for taking sick leave while recovering from a COVID-19 vaccine. Ultimately, Donner was terminated from his position in 2022.

Jason Donner, who has a history of affiliation with the Republican Party but more recently aligned with Democrats, claims that he suffered illegal discrimination and retaliation due to his political beliefs. He is seeking unspecified damages as part of his legal action.

Initially filed in Washington’s Superior Court on September 27, the lawsuit has since been moved to federal court.

Fox News has previously faced legal challenges, including a lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems, which the network settled for nearly $800 million this year. The suit alleged that Fox knowingly promoted false conspiracy theories regarding the security of its voting machines. Additionally, Fox is currently facing a lawsuit from another voting-machine company.

The network also reached a $12 million settlement with Abby Grossberg, a former producer, who asserted that she encountered a discriminatory work environment and was coerced into providing false or misleading testimony in the Dominion suit.

Notably, a former Trump supporter who became embroiled in a conspiracy theory surrounding the events of January 6 has also sued Fox News, contending that the network made him a scapegoat for the riot.

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• Former Fox News reporter’s lawsuit
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