In an out-of-court settlement with the company that provides the vote counting machines in the US elections, Dominion, came the American conservative network Fox News, which was accused of defamation regarding its reports on the 2020 presidential election.

In a last-minute settlement before trial, the network agreed to pay $787.5 million—about half of the $1.6 billion Dominion had originally sought.

Dominion argued that it was harmed by Fox’s dissemination of false claims that there had been fraud against it Donald Trump in the 2020 elections.

Thanks to the deal, Fox executives such as Rupert Murdoch are not required to testify in court.

According to US law, the agreement is not required to be approved by the judge who would try the case.

In a statement, Fox News said the pre-trial settlement – one of the most anticipated in recent times in the US – reflects its “commitment to high journalistic standards”.

Dominion CEO John Poulos said at a news conference that the deal included an admission by Fox that it “lied to the great detriment of my company.”

Justin Nelson, Dominion’s attorney, told reporters that “the truth matters.”

“Lies have consequences,” he added. “Over two years ago, a flood of lies swept the Dominion across America in an alternate universe of conspiracy theories, causing serious damage to the Dominion and the country.”

Mr. Nelson added that for “democracy to endure,” Americans must “share a commitment to the facts.”