In a recent development, a former Fox News Capitol Hill reporter and producer, Jason Donner, has filed a lawsuit against the network, claiming that he was fired for challenging its on-air lies about the 2020 election. Donner alleges that Fox News knew that President Donald Trump's claims of voter fraud were false but decided to "purge" journalists who spoke out against these false claims.

The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C. Superior Court on September 27, seeks undisclosed damages and expenses, and also requests a judgment that would prevent Fox News from discriminating or retaliating against Donner or any other current or former employees. The details of the lawsuit were revealed on Monday in a report by the Daily Beast.

According to the lawsuit, Fox News faced backlash from Trump and its audience after announcing that President Joe Biden had won Arizona on Election Day. In an attempt to regain viewership and appease Trump, the network allegedly "purged" journalists who spoke out against the claims of election fraud.

The suit highlights post-election layoffs that included Chris Stirewalt, the reporter who made the announcement on-air, as well as 20 other journalists, claiming that Fox News immediately capitulated to Trump's denouncement of the network.

The filing cites text messages between Lachlan Murdoch, a co-chair of Fox News' parent company News Corp., and the network's CEO Suzanne Scott. Scott is quoted as saying the network's Arizona call "was damaging but we will highlight our stars and plant flags letting the viewers know we hear them and respect them." Both Fox News and News Corp. did not respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuit also alleges that Fox News became a "toxic environment" for journalists who sought truth and accuracy. It claims that this toxicity reached a peak on January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building to disrupt the counting of electoral votes certifying Biden's victory. Donner, who was working in the Senate's Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery at the time, sought refuge inside the Fox News booth as the network reported that the rioters were "peaceful."

The suit further claims that Donner faced increased scrutiny from Fox News executives due to his insistence on reporting factual information. It cites an instance when Donner reportedly challenged executives who directed reporters to cover stories based on pro-Trump opinion pieces published by newspapers and conservative websites.

The lawsuit also mentions Donner's involvement in debunking false claims in a special hosted by prime time host Tucker Carlson titled "Patriot Purge," which alleged that the January 6 incursion was orchestrated by Trump opponents. Despite Fox News' knowledge that the special contained false information, it was still aired.

Donner's legal battle took a turn when he went on medical leave and subsequently filed a written complaint to his supervisor and the network's human resources department upon returning. This complaint addressed coverage that included false claims about the Capitol insurrection and criticisms that he was reporting on topics that the network showed no interest in. A Zoom meeting with HR followed, in which Donner expressed concerns over "false reporting" by Carlson and the toxic environment at the network.

The lawsuit states that Donner was fired on September 28, 2022, shortly after a phone call from his supervisor the day after he took a sick day to recover from the effects of the Covid vaccine. The suit alleges that during the call, his supervisor yelled at him while questioning his work ethic.

It is important to note that the lawsuit mentions Fox News' settlement of $787.5 million with Dominion Voting Systems following defamation claims. The suit alleges that Fox News aired claims that Dominion was involved in rigging the vote count against Trump, which were found to be false.

Donner's claims of wrongful termination and discrimination are based on the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, which prohibits workplace bias based on political affiliation. The lawsuit seeks to hold Fox News accountable for allegedly prioritizing political agenda over factual reporting.

As the legal battle unfolds, both Fox News and News Corp. have yet to provide comments on the allegations made by Donner.