Fox News

=== Murder of Seth Rich conspiracy ===
{{see also|Murder of Seth Rich}}
On May 16, 2017, a day when other news organizations were extensively covering [[Donald Trump revelation of classified information to Russia|Donald Trump's revelation of classified information to Russia]],<ref name="Snopes-2017">{{Cite news |url=http://www.snopes.com/seth-rich-dnc-wikileaks-murder/ |title=FACT CHECK: Did DNC Staffer Seth Rich Send 'Thousands of E-Mails' to WikiLeaks Before He Was Murdered? |date=May 16, 2017 |work=Snopes.com |access-date=May 16, 2017 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125112757/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/seth-rich-dnc-wikileaks-murder/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Fox News ran a lead story about a private investigator's uncorroborated claims about the [[murder of Seth Rich]], a [[Democratic National Committee|DNC]] staffer.<ref name="Seitz-Wald-2017">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/dnc-staffer-s-murder-draws-fresh-conspiracy-theories-n760186 |title=DNC staffer's murder draws fresh conspiracy theories |first=Alex |last=Seitz-Wald |date=May 16, 2017 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=May 16, 2017 |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215203952/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/dnc-staffer-s-murder-draws-fresh-conspiracy-theories-n760186 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Hermann-2017">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/family-of-slain-seth-rich-says-reports-he-fed-wikileaks-dnc-info-are-untrue/2017/05/16/9b32ef9c-3a46-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html |title=Family of slain Seth Rich says reports that he fed DNC info to WikiLeaks are untrue |first=Peter |last=Hermann |date=May 16, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 16, 2017 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020030/https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/?next_url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/family-of-slain-seth-rich-says-reports-he-fed-wikileaks-dnc-info-are-untrue/2017/05/16/9b32ef9c-3a46-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Darcy-2017">{{Cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/16/media/seth-rich-family-response-claims-of-wikileaks-contact/index.html |title=Story on DNC staffer's murder dominated conservative media – hours later it fell apart |last=Darcy |first=Oliver |date=May 16, 2017 |website=CNN Money |access-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225021203/https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/16/media/seth-rich-family-response-claims-of-wikileaks-contact/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The private investigator said he had uncovered evidence that Rich was in contact with WikiLeaks and law enforcement were covering it up.<ref name="Seitz-Wald-2017"/> The killing of Rich has given rise to [[conspiracy theories]] in right-wing circles that Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party had Seth Rich killed allegedly because he was the source of the [[DNC leaks]].<ref name="Seitz-Wald-2017"/> U.S. intelligence agencies determined Russia was the source of the leaks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-cyber-celebrate-idUSKBN14P2NI |title=U.S. intel report identifies Russians who gave emails to WikiLeaks – officials |date=January 6, 2017 |work=Reuters |access-date=July 3, 2017 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103155319/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-cyber-celebrate-idUSKBN14P2NI |url-status=live }}</ref> In reporting the investigator's claims, the Fox News report reignited right-wing conspiracy theories about the killing.<ref name="Seitz-Wald-2017"/><ref name="Darcy-2017"/>

The Fox News story fell apart within hours.<ref name="Darcy-2018">{{Cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/14/media/seth-rich-lawsuit-fox-news/index.html |title=Family of slain Democratic staffer Seth Rich sues Fox News |last=Darcy |first=Oliver |date=March 14, 2018 |work=CNN Money |access-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229214550/https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/14/media/seth-rich-lawsuit-fox-news/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Other news organizations quickly revealed the investigator was a Donald Trump supporter and had according to NBC News "developed a reputation for making outlandish claims, such as&nbsp;one appearance&nbsp;on Fox News in 2007 in which he warned that underground networks of pink pistol-toting lesbian gangs were raping young women."<ref name="Seitz-Wald-2017"/><ref name="Bromwich-2017">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/us/seth-rich-dnc-wikileaks.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220102/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/us/seth-rich-dnc-wikileaks.html |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=How the Murder of a D.N.C. Staffer Fueled Conspiracy Theories |last=Bromwich |first=Jonah Engel |date=May 17, 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=May 17, 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The family of Seth Rich, the Washington D.C. police department, the Washington D.C. mayor's office, the FBI, and law enforcement sources familiar with the case rebuked the investigator's claims.<ref name="Seitz-Wald-2017"/><ref name="Hermann-2017"/> Rich's relatives said: "We are a family who is committed to facts, not fake evidence that surfaces every few months to fill the void and distract law enforcement and the general public from finding Seth's murderers."<ref name="Seitz-Wald-2017"/> The spokesperson for the family criticized Fox News for its reporting, alleging the outlet was motivated by a desire to deflect attention from the Trump-Russia story: "I think there's a very special place in hell for people that would use the memory of a murder victim in order to pursue a political agenda."<ref name="Snopes-2017"/> The family has called for retractions and apologies from Fox News for the inaccurate reporting.<ref name="Bromwich-2017"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/17/media/seth-rich-family-apology-retraction-fox-news-wttg/index.html |title=Family of slain DNC staffer demands retraction and apology from Fox News, local TV station |last=Darcy |first=Oliver |date=May 17, 2017 |website=CNN Money |access-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213161649/https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/17/media/seth-rich-family-apology-retraction-fox-news-wttg/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Over the course of the day, Fox News altered the contents of the story and the headline, but did not issue corrections.<ref name="Bromwich-2017"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fox-news-seth-rich_us_591cd078e4b034684b093717 |title=Fox Stands By DNC Murder Conspiracy Theory Even After Main Source Changes Story |last=Waldron |first=Travis |date=May 18, 2017 |work=HuffPost |access-date=May 18, 2017 |archive-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230060240/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fox-news-seth-rich_n_591cd078e4b034684b093717 |url-status=live }}</ref> When CNN contacted the private investigator later that day, the investigator said he had no evidence that Rich had contacted WikiLeaks.<ref name="Darcy-2017"/> The investigator claimed he only learned about the possible existence of the evidence from a Fox News reporter.<ref name="Darcy-2017"/> Fox News did not respond to inquiries by CNN, and the Washington Post.<ref name="Hermann-2017"/><ref name="Darcy-2017"/> Fox News later on May 23, seven days after the story was published, retracted its original report, saying the original report did not meet its standards.<ref name="Darcy-2018"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-fox-news-retracts-story-alleging-dnc-1495565128-htmlstory.html |title=Fox News retracts story alleging DNC staffer Seth Rich leaked information to WikiLeaks before death |date=May 23, 2017 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 23, 2017 |issn=0458-3035  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524135956/http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-fox-news-retracts-story-alleging-dnc-1495565128-htmlstory.html |archive-date=May 24, 2017}}</ref>

[[Nicole Hemmer]], then assistant professor at the&nbsp;[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]], wrote that the promotion of the conspiracy theory demonstrated how Fox News was "remaking itself in the image of fringe media in the age of Trump, blurring the lines between real and fake news."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/thomas-jefferson-street/articles/2017-05-23/fox-news-is-destroying-itself-turning-into-a-breitbart-copy-for-trump |title=The Breitbartization of Fox News |last=Hemmer |first=Nicole |date=May 23, 2017 |website=US News |access-date=October 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230140149/https://www.usnews.com/opinion/thomas-jefferson-street/articles/2017-05-23/fox-news-is-destroying-itself-turning-into-a-breitbart-copy-for-trump |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Max Boot]] of the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] said while intent behind Fox News, as a counterweight to the liberal media was laudable, the culmination of those efforts have been to create an alternative news source that promotes hoaxes and myths, of which the promotion of the Seth Rich conspiracy is an example.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/22/the-seth-rich-scandal-shows-that-fox-news-is-morally-bankrupt/ |title=The Seth Rich 'Scandal' Shows That Fox News Is Morally Bankrupt |first=Max |last=Boot |date=May 22, 2017 |website=Foreign Policy |access-date=May 23, 2017 |archive-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230105416/https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/22/the-seth-rich-scandal-shows-that-fox-news-is-morally-bankrupt/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Fox News was also criticized by conservative outlets, such as ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/prime-time-conspiracy-theory/article/2008229 |title=Prime-Time Conspiracy Theory |first=John |last=McCormack |date=May 26, 2017 |work=Weekly Standard |access-date=May 27, 2017 |archive-date=May 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526083000/http://www.weeklystandard.com/prime-time-conspiracy-theory/article/2008229  }}</ref> ''[[National Review]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/morning-jolt/447911/seth-rich-murder-conspiracy-katy-perry-manchester-attack-comments |title=The Facts of the Seth Rich Murder That Don't Support Conspiracy Theories |first=Jim |last=Geraghty |date=May 24, 2017 |work=National Review |access-date=May 27, 2017 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125112732/https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/seth-rich-murder-conspiracy-katy-perry-manchester-attack-comments/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=French|first=David|author-link=David French (political commentator)|date=May 24, 2017|title=The Seth Rich Conspiracy Theory Is Shameful Nonsense|work=National Review|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/447903/sean-hannity-seth-rich-conspiracy-theory-disgrace|access-date=May 27, 2017|archive-date=May 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528094135/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/447903/sean-hannity-seth-rich-conspiracy-theory-disgrace|url-status=live}}</ref> and conservative columnists, such as [[Jennifer Rubin (columnist)|Jennifer Rubin]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/05/24/questions-fox-and-the-right-need-to-answer/ |title=Questions Fox and the right need to answer |last=Rubin |first=Jennifer |date=May 24, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 27, 2017 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111231656/https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/?next_url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/05/24/questions-fox-and-the-right-need-to-answer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Michael Gerson]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-conservative-mind-has-become-diseased/2017/05/25/523f0964-4159-11e7-9869-bac8b446820a_story.html |title=The conservative mind has become diseased |last=Gerson |first=Michael |date=May 25, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 29, 2017 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=January 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105132004/https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/?next_url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-conservative-mind-has-become-diseased/2017/05/25/523f0964-4159-11e7-9869-bac8b446820a_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[John Podhoretz]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.commentarymagazine.com/politics-ideas/the-shame-of-defaming-seth-rich/ |title=The Shameless Conspiracy Theorizing Involving Seth Rich Must Stop |first=John |last=Podhoretz |date=May 23, 2017 |work=Commentary Magazine |access-date=May 28, 2017 |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525021948/https://www.commentarymagazine.com/politics-ideas/the-shame-of-defaming-seth-rich/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Rich's parents, Joel and Mary Rich, sued Fox News for the emotional distress it had caused them by its false reporting. In 2020, Fox News settled with Rich family, making a payment that was not officially disclosed but which was reported to be in the seven figures.<ref name="settlement">{{Citation| last = Isikoff| first = Michael| author-link = Michael Isikoff| title = Fox paid seven figures to settle lawsuit over bogus Seth Rich conspiracy story| publisher = [[Yahoo! News]]| date = November 24, 2020| url = https://news.yahoo.com/fox-paid-seven-figures-to-settle-lawsuit-over-bogus-seth-rich-conspiracy-story-003236858.html| access-date = November 28, 2020| archive-date = December 13, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201213162844/https://news.yahoo.com/fox-paid-seven-figures-to-settle-lawsuit-over-bogus-seth-rich-conspiracy-story-003236858.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Although the settlement had been agreed to earlier in the year, Fox News arranged to delay the public announcement until after the 2020 presidential election.<ref name="settlement"/><ref>{{cite news | title=Fox Settled a Lawsuit Over Its Lies. But It Insisted on One Unusual Condition | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/business/media/fox-news-seth-rich-settlement.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage | work=The New York Times | date=January 18, 2021 | last1=Smith | first1=Ben | access-date=January 18, 2021 | archive-date=February 2, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202160047/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/business/media/fox-news-seth-rich-settlement.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage | url-status=live }}</ref>