Newsmax Agrees to $67 Million Settlement in Defamation Suit Over Election Claims
Newsmax, a conservative media network, has reached a $67 million settlement in response to a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems. The lawsuit accused Newsmax of disseminating false claims regarding the company’s voting equipment in the context of former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. The settlement agreement was documented in court filings on Monday.
Legal Proceedings and Prior Settlements
The Newsmax settlement follows a similar legal action involving Fox News Channel, which concluded with a substantial payment of $787.5 million to resolve accusations of defamation. Additionally, Newsmax had previously settled a separate libel lawsuit with voting machine company Smartmatic for $40 million, as detailed in court records.
Judicial Rulings and Statements
Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis previously determined that Newsmax had defamed Dominion Voting Systems by broadcasting misleading information regarding the firm’s role in the 2020 election. Although Davis decided that a jury should assess whether Newsmax acted with malice, the settlement was reached prior to a trial. Newsmax disclosed the agreement in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, indicating the deal was finalized last Friday.
In a statement, Newsmax emphasized the importance of presenting both sides of the 2020 election disputes to the public, asserting that their coverage was “fair, balanced, and conducted within professional standards of journalism.” Meanwhile, a Dominion spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the settlement outcome.
Political Context and Internal Communications
The settlement news coincides with ongoing political discussions, as Trump recently pledged to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines, including those provided by Dominion, through a social media post. The feasibility of such actions remains uncertain.
Internal communications from Newsmax revealed an awareness of the baseless nature of the allegations. For instance, Newsmax host Bob Sellers questioned the persistence of election fraud narratives, shortly after the 2020 election was called for Biden.
Further, communication within Newsmax indicated a strategic decision to appeal to viewers who believed in Trump’s victory, reflecting business interests intertwined with editorial choices. Similar insights were gained from earlier court disclosures in the Dominion-Fox News case.
Reactions Within Newsmax
Newsmax staff consistently advised against the propagation of untrue claims from pro-Trump figures, such as attorney Sidney Powell. According to case documents, Newsmax owner Chris Ruddy, a known Trump supporter, found Trump’s interactions with Powell to be concerning.
Dominion was repeatedly mentioned in speculative theories aired on Newsmax, involving unfounded connections to deceased Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. The network eventually retracted some of these extravagant claims in December 2020.
Despite Trump’s continued assertions of election fraud, the lack of supporting evidence has been highlighted by former Attorney General William Barr, who stated there was no evidence of significant fraud.
