**Fox Corp. Chief Legal Officer to Step Down Following Dominion Voting Systems Case**
Fox Corp.’s top lawyer, Viet Dinh, and a close aide to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, will be stepping down from his role as the company’s chief legal and policy officer. This move marks the company’s most significant management shift since settling defamation claims by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million. Dinh will transition into a special adviser position at the company starting on December 31. As part of his separation agreement, he will receive a $23 million lump-sum payment and a two-year contract that pays him $2.5 million per year.
**Reasons for Dinh’s Departure**
While Fox did not provide a specific reason for Dinh’s departure, sources familiar with the matter indicate that his handling of the Dominion case and its outcome played a significant role in his departure. The Dominion case resulted in the largest payout ever in a media defamation case. Despite characterizing the parting as amicable, the sources suggest that there was dissatisfaction regarding Dinh’s strategy and management of the case.
**Dinh’s Contributions to Fox Corp.**
Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch expressed appreciation for Dinh’s contributions and service to the company. Dinh had been a board member for 21st Century Fox and served as a valuable member of Fox’s leadership team for the past five years. Murdoch expects to continue benefiting from Dinh’s counsel as he transitions into his role as a special adviser.
**Media Personnel Departures in the Wake of Dominion Case**
Dinh is the second prominent figure to leave Fox Corp. following the company’s settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. Tucker Carlson, Fox News’ popular host, was also fired in May. Fox News is currently facing another defamation suit by Smartmatic Corp., a voting machine maker seeking $2.7 billion in damages related to claims of rigged voting.
**Concerns Over Dinh’s Assurances to the Fox Board**
Dinh, a former Justice Department official and top Washington lawyer, had become a trusted adviser to the Murdochs. However, The New York Times reported in May that Dinh faced criticism over his assurances to the Fox board that the company would prevail in the case, leading to prolonged litigation. This resulted in embarrassing disclosures, including deposition testimonies and communications that cast doubt on the election claims Fox News was broadcasting.
**Involvement in Fox News’ Election Coverage**
Court filings reveal that Dinh participated in discussions regarding Fox News’ coverage after the 2020 presidential election. He was included in an email chain alongside Rupert Murdoch and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, expressing concern over Sidney Powell’s “outlandish” voter fraud claims. These internal communications, made public during the Dominion case, further contributed to the scrutiny surrounding Fox’s election coverage.
**Dinh’s Background and Role at Fox**
Prior to joining Fox Corp. as the chief legal officer in 2018, Dinh served as a director at two predecessor companies. He had previously held the position of assistant US attorney general during President George W. Bush’s administration. After leaving the government, Dinh established Bancroft PLLC, a notable Washington litigation boutique known for representing conservative groups. The firm, known for leading Supreme Court challenges against Obamacare, was later acquired by Kirkland & Ellis in 2016.
**Dinh’s Statement and Fox Corp. Stock Performance**
Regarding his departure, Dinh expressed gratitude for being part of the Fox family for over two decades and treasured his relationships with the Murdochs and colleagues. He looks forward to returning to his roots of working on multiple ventures and with various clients in different disciplines. Fox Corp. announced Dinh’s departure after the close of financial markets in New York. The company’s shares finished the day up 0.3% at $34.60.
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