Rupert Murdoch says Fox News hosts endorsed false election fraud claims

Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire proprietor of Fox News, has acknowledged immoderate of the network's stars endorsed mendacious claims the 2020 predetermination was stolen.

But helium denied each of Fox backed Donald Trump's baseless claims of wide fraud aft his predetermination defeat.

Mr Murdoch's comments were revealed successful a ineligible filing arsenic portion of a defamation suit brought by ballot tech institution Dominion Voting Systems.

Fox News denies defamation - saying the hosts' words were taken retired of context.

"Some of our commentators were endorsing it," Mr Murdoch said successful a sworn deposition filed connected Monday.

Asked astir definite on-air claims that echoed Mr Trump's, helium said: "I would person liked america to beryllium stronger successful denouncing it, successful hindsight."

Regarding the Republican erstwhile president's allegations of wide elector fraud, Mr Murdoch said helium was doubtful.

Dominion is suing Fox News for $1.6bn (£1.3bn), arguing the blimpish outlet broadcast mendacious and malicious rumours astir elector fraud that harmed its business.

Fox News has argued that the comments are protected nether the law close to escaped speech, and that it was lone reporting connected Mr Trump's allegations, not supporting them.

In a connection provided to BBC News connected Monday, Fox said Dominion's suit "mischaracterizes the facts by cherry-picking soundbites, omitting cardinal context, and mischaracterizing the record".

In bid to beryllium defamation, lawyers for Dominion would person to successfully reason that Fox presented mendacious information, and did truthful knowing that it was untrue. 

A assemblage proceedings is expected to statesman successful Delaware successful April.