Newsmax to pay $67M settlement to Dominion Voting Systems over 2020 election lies
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Conservative cable network Newsmax has settled a defamation lawsuit brought by voting-machine company Dominion Voting Systems over the airing of 2020 election lies, the company said in a regulatory filing Monday. It will pay $67 million over the next two fiscal years.
Why it matters: It's the second major defamation lawsuit the company has settled following allegations that it aired falsehoods related to the 2020 election.
- Newsmax settled a similar lawsuit brought by voting-machine company Smartmatic last year for $40 million.
Zoom in: It's unclear how Newsmax and Dominion came to the $67 million amount.
- In the filing, Newsmax said it would be making the payments to Dominion in three installments: $27 million paid on Aug. 15, $20 million on or before Jan. 15, 2026, and $20 million on or before Jan. 15, 2027.
- The statement does not include any information that indicates Newsmax would be required to issue an on-air retraction or apology to Dominion.
What they're saying: A Dominion spokesperson said the company is "pleased to have settled this matter."
- In a statement posted to its website, Newsmax defended itself and accused the court and judge overseeing the case of undermining "the role of the press in a free society."
- "Newsmax believed it was critically important for the American people to hear both sides of the election disputes that arose in 2020. We stand by our coverage as fair, balanced, and conducted within professional standards of journalism," Newsmax said.
Zoom out: Both settlements allow Newsmax, which recently went public, to avoid high-profile trials over the airing of false claims that former President Biden's 2020 election victory was rigged.
The big picture: Newsmax's settlement represents the latest outcome from a long list of litigation waged by Smartmatic and Dominion against conservative media companies and personalities following the 2020 election.
- Most notably, Fox News struck an eleventh-hour $787 million defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023.
- Fox News was not required to give any apologies or retractions on air as a part of its deal.
- Conservative cable network One America News also settled lawsuits over the same issue with a former Dominion executive and Smartmatic.
What's next: Fox News currently faces a defamation lawsuit from Smartmatic. The voting tech company is seeking $2.7 billion in damages.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that OAN settled with a former Dominion executive (not with the company).
