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Judge dismisses lawsuit against Fox News in sick leave dispute with fired journalist

WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Fox News, which was sued by a fired journalist who had accused the network of violating sick leave law and also targeting him for political views.

Jason Donner lost the sick leave claim Monday, the last remaining issue in his lawsuit in federal court in Washington.

Donner was fired in 2022. He was accused of failing to give proper notice when taking a sick day and having a contentious, unflattering phone conversation with his boss about it.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled in Fox’s favor, saying Donner’s conduct was not protected by the District of Columbia’s sick leave law. The judge noted that Fox requires an ill employee to contact a supervisor as soon as possible and no later than two hours after a start time.

Earlier in the litigation, Donner separately said he was also fired as part of a “purge” of employees who refused to report only information that would “appease” President Donald Trump and his supporters during his first term.

Donner said he had been inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and called to scream at the control room when he learned Fox News was referring to the rioters as peaceful. Fox denied any discrimination against him.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper dismissed that claim in 2024.

“Though his amended complaint suggests that he may have been terminated for speaking out against Fox’s reporting, no established public policy prevents Fox from cutting ties with an employee who objects to its editorial decisions,” Cooper said.

Dutch court allows rapper Ye concerts in the Netherlands

AMSTERDAM (AP) — A judge in Amsterdam on Wednesday rejected an appeal by a Jewish organization to block two performances by the rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, ruling that the concerts are not a threat to public order. Ye has drawn widespread controversy in recent years for a series of antisemitic remarks, leaving Dutch authorities under mounting pressure to cancel the gigs on June 6 and 8. The Central Jewish Council filed the emergency lawsuit on Tuesday, arguing that Ye should be banned from the country for voicing admiration for Adolf Hilter and selling T-shirts featuring swastikas. According to the Amsterdam District Court, there were no grounds to bar Ye from performing. “There are no indications that West’s presence in the coming days will lead to concrete public order dangers,” the court said in a statement.
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