Newsmax Pays $40M to Settle Smartmatic Defamation Lawsuit

Newsmax Media has agreed to pay $40 million to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic over false claims that the voting technology company rigged the 2020 U.S. election in favor of Joe Biden. The settlement, reached privately last year, was disclosed in a recent regulatory filing dated March 7.

Smartmatic sued Newsmax in 2021, alleging the outlet spread misinformation, including claims that its machines switched votes, were hacked, and were funded by corrupt foreign entities. The lawsuit also argued that Newsmax profited from these falsehoods, with its audience surging tenfold after the election as Donald Trump amplified its reports.

Newsmax defended its coverage, stating it had a First Amendment right to report on Trump’s claims, many of which were included in court filings challenging the election results. The network later issued a clarification in December 2020 and invited Smartmatic representatives to present their side, but Smartmatic declined.

Smartmatic reportedly sought damages between $400 million and $600 million, though the final settlement was significantly lower. The company has also filed a $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News over similar claims.

This settlement follows Fox’s $787.5 million agreement with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, marking one of the largest defamation payouts in U.S. media history.

Neither Newsmax nor Smartmatic has provided public statements regarding the settlement.