A senior producer for star Tucker Carlson sued Fox News on Monday, March 20, 2023, for planning to use her and other colleagues as scapegoats for a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit. In the lawsuit, a voting technology company, Dominion Voting Systems, is trying to hold Fox News responsible for broadcasting lies regarding the 2020 presidential elections.

A trial for this issue is scheduled for next month with the producer, Abby Grossberg, who is involved as a critical witness. Initially seeking a restraining order against Grossberg to stop her from leaking information linked to the Dominion suit, Fox News had their case against her dropped this Tuesday.

Maria Bartiromo was another Fox News star Grossberg worked for. She seemed interested in having guests on her show who threw out baseless claims that Dominion had helped steal the presidency from former President Donald Trump on-air. Grossberg slammed the Fox News attorneys with her lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan.

According to the case, Grossberg left prep sessions with the idea that she was supposed to give evasive answers and avoid discussing the lack of staffing and support on Bartiromo’s show. Who would she be giving these elusive answers to? On September 14, 2022, the Dominion attorneys spoke about a long-winded memo by Sidney Powell, a Trump ally, full of conspiracies.

Grossberg also alleged that male colleagues were allowed to review and make edits to the transcripts of the depositions after being questioned. In contrast, she was not allowed to do so until later when Dominion cited her in its legal briefs. Shortly after Grossberg filed suit, Fox said, “FOX News Media engaged an independent outside counsel to immediately investigate the concerns raised by Ms. Grossberg, which were made following a critical performance review. Her allegations in connection with the Dominion case are baseless and we will vigorously defend Fox against all of her claims." Grossberg’s lawsuits also named Carlson and some of his staff members as defendants, replete with examples of sexism hanging over the workplace of Carlson’s show like a thick fog. Images were plastered, showing former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in "a plunging bathing suit revealing her cleavage," Grossberg's lawsuit states. Grossberg alleges staffers were polled—on two separate occasions—on which of two female candidates for Michigan governor they would rather have sex with. She alleges that her boss at the show, Justin Wells, conceded she was paid less than her male counterparts. Grossberg also alleges male executives consistently belittled and demeaned Bartiromo and another female host, Jeanine Pirro.

During questioning by Dominion’s lawyers under oath, Grossberg was asked to read aloud text messages written by Carlson about Powell and his referring to her as a “c—, “among other derogatory terms. The lawyer asked Grossberg if those messages made her uncomfortable, which she was required to answer no when it was not true. Grossberg knew Carlson was very capable of using such disgusting language about women. She also knew how she felt whenever she heard her prior male superiors and colleagues at Fox News spew misogynistic phrases at her (or within her earshot) “on a constant basis," her lawsuit states. However, Grossberg knew she had to keep quiet, or her role as the key witness to her lawsuit would be jeopardized.

Will Fox News be able to shed the legacy of its late chairman, Roger Ailes, ousted after numerous women came forward with cries of sexual harassment and assault? Or will history repeat with this company?

By Matthew Moon