Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems have reached a blockbuster settlement over the network’s coverage of ex-President Donald Trump’s false claims of voter fraud.

The network agreed to pay more than $787million to the voting equipment company, a judge announced on Tuesday, the first day of the defamation trial.

‘The parties have resolved their case,’ Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis told jurors.

Jurors were set to hear the $1.6billion lawsuit that Dominion filed against Fox and weigh if the network defamed the voting machine company by airing stories falsely alleging that the 2020 election was rigged against Trump. Fox put out the coverage despite privately doubting Trump’s untrue claims.

‘Fox has admitted to telling lies about Dominion that caused enormous damage to my company, our employees, and the customers that we serve,’ said Dominion CEO John Poulos after the settlement.

‘Nothing can ever make up for that. I cannot thank the election officials that we serve enough. Without them, there is no democracy.’

Fox News stated it was ‘pleased to have reached a settlement’ and acknowledged that some of its on-air remarks about Dominion were false.

‘We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false,’ stated the network.

‘This settlement reflects FOX’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards.

‘We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.’

The biggest media trial in decades began in Wilmington a day after a one-day delay.

Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis praised both parties for the last-minute settlement, which was reportedly brokered as opening statements were about to be underway.

“I have been on the bench since 2010… I think this is the best lawyering I’ve had, ever,’ Davis said.

The judge added that the jurors’ presence was ‘extremely important’.

‘Without you,’ Davis said, ‘The parties would not have been able to resolve their situation.’

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