Fox reaches settlement with Venezuelan businessman in election defamation, Lou Dobbs case

Fox Corp. has reached a confidential agreement to settle a defamation case filed by Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil, who claimed that Fox News and former host Lou Dobbs had harmed Khalil's reputation by claiming that he was involved in a scheme to rig the 2020 presidential election.

"This matter has been resolved amicably by both sides. We have no further comment," Fox News told Variety Magazine on Sunday.

A letter filed over the weekend to U.S. District Court Judge Louis Stanton stated that the parties in the case "reached a confidential agreement to resolve this matter" and that they "anticipate filing a joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice early next week.

Khalil filed the case in 2021 and alleged that Dobbs harmed his reputation by suggesting in 2020 on the Fox Business Network and Twitter that Khalil and other Venezuelan officials conspired with election firms Smartmatic Inc. and Dominion Voting Systems to ensure that former President Donald Trump lost. 

Dobbs' Fox Business program was canceled after he was named in a separate $2.7 billion lawsuit filed by Smartmatic. 

Fox News is also facing another defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems for $1.6 billion.

The financial details of Fox's settlement with Khalil are unclear.