A defamation lawsuit between electronic voting machine company Smartmatic and conservative news outlet Newsmax has been resolved through a confidential settlement. The lawsuit, which centered on allegations that Newsmax hosts and guests made false claims about Smartmatic’s role in rigging the 2020 U.S. presidential election, was settled just hours after jury selection began.
Smartmatic had initially sought $1.7 billion in damages, later reducing its claim to $400 million, with a focus on alleged lost revenue opportunities of nearly $370 million. Though the specific terms of the settlement were not disclosed, both parties expressed satisfaction with the resolution. Newsmax stated it was pleased to have settled the litigation, while Smartmatic highlighted its commitment to holding those responsible for disinformation accountable.
Smartmatic is also pursuing a defamation case against Fox News in New York for similar election-related claims. This case mirrors Dominion Voting Systems’ legal actions following the spread of conspiracy theories that implicated their voting machines in Donald Trump’s election loss. Dominion notably settled with Fox News for $787 million in 2022.
Newsmax argued that it was reporting on newsworthy allegations made by prominent figures, such as Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, who were associated with Donald Trump. The network contended that the lawsuit threatened freedom of speech and press.
The broader legal battle highlights the repercussions for media outlets that amplified unverified claims about the integrity of the 2020 election.