Overview

• Newly public texts show Jeanine Pirro told Ronna McDaniel she “work[s] so hard for the President and party” and later called Sean Hannity an “egomaniac” in an Oval Office account.
• The filing says Fox hosts and producers discussed leaning into fraud allegations for audience retention, including Jesse Watters texting about going “ALL in on STOP THE STEAL.”
• Internal cautions flagged falsehoods in real time, with Pirro’s producer warning her off unproven claims and Bret Baier texting leadership, “We need to fact-check this crap.”
• Smartmatic argues the messages support actual malice and editorial control by Fox, describing a post-election pivot to amplify fraud claims despite internal research undermining them.
• Fox denies defamation, says Smartmatic inflated damages and had preexisting troubles including executive indictments, and both sides are pursuing summary judgment with trial timing uncertain.