08 March 2023 , 17:24
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Fox News host Tucker Carlson said in a text message that he hates former US President Donald Trump "passionately", court filings have revealed.
The messages, sent in January 2021 to a colleague, have come out as part of the defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News.
The voting firm has accused the network of promoting false claims of vote rigging in the 2020 election that saw Donald Trump lose to Joe Biden.
In a text sent on January 4 just two days before Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building, Mr Carlson wrote: "We are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I truly can't wait."
He added: "I hate him passionately."
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Mr Carlson is one of the top rated hosts on Fox News and often publicly praised the achievements of Trump.
Tucker Carlson speaks during 2022 FOX Nation Patriot Awards (Getty Images)But in private he wrote: "That's the last four years. We're all pretending we've got a lot to show for it, because admitting what a disaster it's been is too tough to digest. But come on. There isn't really an upside to Trump."
Dominion argues that executives and hosts at Fox News knew the conspiracy claims were false but still aired them.
Previous filings revealed that even media mogul and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch, acknowledged some of the hosts plugged false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
The messages reveal what Carlson was saying about Trump in private (Getty Images)In a statement given to CBS News, Fox News said: "Thanks to today's filings, Dominion has been caught red-handed again using more distortions and misinformation in their PR campaign to smear Fox News and trample on free speech and freedom of the press."
A jury trial is expected to begin in April.
Tucker Carlson has been slammed for releasing a special cut of security video released from the January 6 on the US Capitol.
It was given to the Fox News host by Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The footage was handed over to Tucker Carlson to try and falsely portray the riot as a non-violent gathering.
Carlson said: 'There isn't really an upside to Trump' (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Five people died during the storming of the US Capitol by Trump supporters and there is extensive footage of violence.
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Following the Carlson footage, Donald Trump has demanded the release of Capitol riot prisoners.
Trump said the host had achieved one of the nation's "biggest" news "scoops" after Fox News aired some of the footage on his show last night.
He wrote on the social media platform Truth: "Let the January 6 prisoners go. They are convicted, or are awaiting trial, based on a giant lie, a radical left con job.
"Thank you to Tucker Carlson and speaker of the house Kevin McCarthy for what you have both done. New video footage is irrefutable."