WASHINGTON — A judge has ordered that James Hoover, co-founder of Dominion Voting Systems, must testify in a high-profile lawsuit that involves claims made against his company regarding the 2020 presidential election. The legal battle targets broadcaster One America News Network (OAN) and several prominent supporters of former President Donald Trump, including Patrick Byrne and Mike Lindell, who are accused of promoting unfounded election fraud theories.
Federal Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya ruled that Hoover’s deposition would be limited to three hours. The decision is part of the ongoing legal proceedings where Dominion seeks to hold accountable those who allegedly spread misinformation about the company’s voting machines being rigged in favor of President Joe Biden.
A deposition serves as a pre-trial sworn testimony where parties involved in litigation can gather facts and establish their positions before the trial. Hoover’s forthcoming deposition marks a crucial step in Dominion’s efforts to counter the claims leveled against it, which have had significant impacts on public trust in the electoral process.
The current lawsuit sees Dominion litigating against not only OAN but also its owners, the Herring family, along with OAN journalists Chanel Rion and Christina Bobb. Additionally, the lawsuit envelops Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, attorneys for Trump’s 2020 campaign, asserting that they were part of a concerted effort to undermine the integrity of the election.
The allegations revolve around a conspiracy theory, championed by Trump and his allies, which suggested that Dominion’s technology skewed the election results. All defendants have publicly denied wrongdoing, echoing a large segment of Trump supporters who continue to dispute the 2020 election outcomes.
Judge Upadhyaya’s recent rulings also touched on procedural aspects of the litigation, including the handling of evidence and further depositions. For instance, she has yet to resolve whether Dominion can compel testimony from Robert Herring Sr., another key figure in the case.
As a part of the discovery process, the judge has also instructed both parties to cooperate on a subpoena that will seek information from personal devices of three OAN employees, which might contain relevant data for the case. Such steps illustrate the complexities involved in litigating cases that involve high volumes of digital communication.
Dominion’s lawsuit claims more than $1 billion in damages from OAN, reflecting the severe reputational and financial harm the company alleges it suffered due to the purportedly false claims. The broadcaster has resisted some of Dominion’s demands during the discovery phase, leading to intricate legal debates over disclosure and evidence handling.
Apart from the Dominion case, the broader landscape of post-election litigation includes other suits that highlight the ripple effects of election-related conspiracy theories. In April 2024, another voting machine company, Smartmatic, settled a lawsuit against OAN, further underscoring the legal fallout from the disputed election claims. Meanwhile, in September 2023, a former Dominion official, Eric Coomer, settled his own defamation lawsuit against OAN and journalist Rion for an undisclosed amount.
The unfolding litigation not only impacts the parties involved but also has broader implications for the national discussion around election security, media responsibility, and political rhetoric in the digital age. As such, the outcomes of these cases could set significant legal precedents for how election technology companies defend their reputations and assert their roles in the democratic process.