On the brink of trial, the cable news channel Newsmax on Thursday reached a settlement with voting machine company Smartmatic, bringing an end to a defamation lawsuit that accused the network of spreading multiple false claims surrounding the 2020 election.
Smartmatic had accused Newsmax of publishing dozens of false reports claiming that Smartmatic helped rig the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden. Newsmax had argued, in part, that they were reporting on newsworthy claims of fraud.
“Newsmax is pleased to announce it has resolved the litigation brought by Smartmatic through a confidential settlement,” Newsmax said in a statement posted to their website.
In a statement, Smartmatic said they are “very pleased” with the settlement, and referenced to their ongoing case against Fox News.
“Lying to the American People has consequences,” the statement said, in part.
The news came as jury selection was already underway Thursday in Delaware, according to a court official, ahead of opening statements that were set to begin Monday.
A Newsmax microphone is seen during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, July 17, 2024.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
The amount of the settlement was not immediately disclosed. Prior to the settlement, Smartmatic had suffered a setback that included the judge ruling out their ability to seek punitive damages at trial.
In a separate case last year, Dominion Voting Systems reached a $787 million settlement with Fox News in a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit that involved similar claims related to the election.
The Newsmax trial had been set to play out before the same judge that oversaw the Dominion case.
Newsmax, a conservative news outlet, has reached a settlement with Smartmatic, a voting technology company, over claims made during the 2020 presidential election. The settlement comes after Smartmatic filed a defamation lawsuit against Newsmax for spreading false information about the company’s role in the election.
The settlement agreement includes a public apology from Newsmax, in which they acknowledge that there is no evidence to support the claims made against Smartmatic. Newsmax also agreed to pay an undisclosed amount in damages to Smartmatic as part of the settlement.
The false claims made by Newsmax and other conservative media outlets alleged that Smartmatic was involved in a conspiracy to rig the election in favor of then-candidate Joe Biden. These claims were widely debunked by fact-checkers and election officials, who found no evidence of widespread voter fraud or manipulation.
Smartmatic’s lawsuit against Newsmax was part of a larger effort by the company to hold accountable those who spread misinformation about its products and services. In a statement following the settlement, Smartmatic CEO Antonio Mugica emphasized the importance of holding media outlets accountable for spreading false information.
The settlement between Newsmax and Smartmatic serves as a reminder of the impact of misinformation on public discourse and the need for media outlets to verify information before reporting it. In a time when trust in the media is already low, spreading false information only serves to further erode public trust and confidence in the democratic process.
Moving forward, it is crucial for media outlets to uphold journalistic standards and ethics in reporting on elections and other important issues. Fact-checking and verifying information from reliable sources are essential to maintaining the integrity of the news and ensuring that the public is informed accurately.
The settlement between Newsmax and Smartmatic is a step in the right direction towards holding accountable those who spread misinformation and ensuring that the public has access to accurate and reliable information. It serves as a reminder that journalism carries a responsibility to report the truth and uphold the principles of democracy.
