Oct. 9, 2023: Former FCC Commissioner Duggan and conservative analyst Kristol file in support of petition

In an October 9, 2023, FCC filing, former Democratic FCC Commissioner Ervin S. Duggan and conservative analyst William Kristol argue that the pension-fund lawsuits recently filed against Fox are further evidence of character issues the Commission must examine before granting a broadcast-license renewal to Fox and its corporate leaders.

“The pension funds' lawsuits address Fox leadership's willingness knowingly to lie about important matters, and go to the heart of the issue before the FCC,” said Kristol. “The suits offer critical new evidence about Fox’s corporate misconduct and reflect that Fox shareholders “are troubled by the same core issues” as those raised in the MAD petition.

“These lawsuits show the parent corporation of the broadcast licensee showed poor judgment and questionable character in managing a business that—but for FCC licensure—is identical in core objectives and operation of its subsidiary broadcast station,” said Duggan. “We believe firmly that these nonpartisan lawsuits demonstrating bad judgment and suspect character should speak loudly to the Commission.

Two of four lawsuits filed by pension funds representing workers in New York City, Oregon, Rhode Island, and the Swedish Government cite MAD’s petition as an outcome of the Fox Board’s recklessness when they allowed Fox senior leadership to promote lies about the 2020 election.

“Defendants’ breaches of fiduciary duty have not only resulted in massive economic and reputational damages to the Company and caused untold societal harm, but they also threaten to deny Fox’s ability to continue operating as a broadcast news media business, which is its core business,” the Swedish suit contends.

“The Murdochs’ decision to embrace Trump’s claims of a stolen election not only led to the $787.5 million settlement payment to Dominion, but also endangered Fox’s broadcast licenses,” says the New York City lawsuit.

 Duggan’s and Kristol’s FCC filing is here.
The press release can be found here.

The Swedish pension fund lawsuit is here.      
The New York City pension fund lawsuit is here.