Fox’s Chief Legal Officer, Viet Dinh, resigned shortly after the Dominion settlement, 2023.
Fox Corporation’s Chief Legal and Policy Officer, Viet Dinh, is set to resign, marking his departure several months after the company agreed to a significant $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.
Dinh’s decision to step down comes from his instrumental role advising Fox through a contentious legal battle with Dominion. The April settlement ultimately resolved this clash, just shy of a trial. Despite the payment, the aftermath has cast a shadow over the company.
The genesis of this legal saga was Dominion’s defamation lawsuit against Fox. Dominion asserted that the network had deliberately and inaccurately assigned blame to the company for the 2020 election outcome, alleging that Dominion’s voting machines had manipulated the results in favour of President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump.
Fox consented to the settlement terms, which did not mandate on-air discussions of the lawsuit or require public apologies from its hosts.
Notably, in the aftermath of the settlement, Fox made a significant programming change by removing Tucker Carlson from the primetime slot. Carlson, a prominent Fox host, subsequently launched his show on platform X, previously known as Twitter.
Jesse Watters was chosen as the replacement for the vacated primetime slot, filling the void left by Carlson.
Carlson and Dinh were integral figures within Fox embroiled in the legal battle. As part of the legal proceedings, depositions, emails, text messages, and other forms of communication were made public, revealing insights into the events leading up to the lawsuit.
Dominion had actively sought to compel Fox’s upper echelon, including Dinh, to provide in-person testimony leading up to the trial. In the period preceding the trial’s commencement, the presiding judge indicated a willingness to mandate executive deposition if necessary.
Dinh’s tenure at Fox dates back to 2018, when he held a pivotal legal role. He oversaw the company’s legal, compliance, and regulatory endeavours and his responsibilities within government affairs.
Effective December 31, he will step down from his position and assume the company’s Special Advisor role.
Fox Corporation’s CEO, Lachlan Murdoch, expressed gratitude for Dinh’s service and contributions as a board member of 21st Century Fox and a vital member of Fox’s leadership team over the past five years. Murdoch welcomed Dinh’s ongoing involvement as a Special Advisor, emphasizing the value of his guidance.
In conclusion, Fox Corporation’s Chief Legal and Policy Officer, Viet Dinh, is departing from his role, coinciding with the aftermath of the company’s multimillion-dollar settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.
Dinh’s role in navigating the legal dispute, along with subsequent programming changes, highlights this episode’s significant impact on the network. As Dinh transitions to a new role as Special Advisor, Fox aims to benefit from his continued insights and counsel.
