Cable network Newsmax has agreed to pay $40 million to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic, a voting machine company, regarding false claims made about its involvement in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. These claims suggested that Smartmatic helped rig the election in favor of Joe Biden over Donald Trump.
The settlement, which was finalized privately last year, was revealed in a regulatory filing by Newsmax on March 7. However, Smartmatic’s representative stated the company is unable to discuss the specifics of the deal but expressed anticipation for its ongoing legal battle against Fox News over similar election-related accusations.
Smartmatic filed the defamation suit against Newsmax in 2021, accusing the network of spreading harmful misinformation. The company was falsely accused of switching votes, having its machines hacked, and being funded by corrupt foreign leaders.
Smartmatic also claimed that Newsmax profited from broadcasting these false narratives, especially after former President Trump promoted the outlet’s claims on social media. As a result, Newsmax’s viewership surged significantly, surpassing rivals like CNBC and Fox Business, according to Nielsen Ratings.
Newsmax defended its actions by citing its First Amendment right to report on claims made by Trump and his supporters, many of which were presented in court filings contesting the election results. The network also stated that it attempted to clarify its reporting on Smartmatic in December 2020, inviting the company to appear on air to address the allegations. However, Smartmatic declined the invitation.
Although Smartmatic did not provide an estimate of the damages, Newsmax has stated that the company sought between $400 million and $600 million in compensation. In a related matter, Smartmatic has also sued Fox News for $2.7 billion over its coverage of the 2020 election. Last year, Fox News reached a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, agreeing to pay $787.5 million to resolve defamation claims in a case deemed one of the largest defamation settlements in U.S. media history.
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