In a recent and significant development, the US television network Newsmax has reached a settlement in a defamation lawsuit that was brought against it by Dominion Voting Systems, agreeing to pay a substantial $67 million (£50 million). The lawsuit, which was initially filed in 2021, accused Newsmax of disseminating false and misleading information regarding the integrity of the 2020 US presidential election, alleging that the network falsely claimed Dominion had rigged the election to ensure a victory for President Joe Biden over then-incumbent President Donald Trump.
Dominion Voting Systems, the plaintiff in the case, contended that the wrongful allegations made by Newsmax had inflicted “devastating economic harm” to the company. Following the conclusion of the 2020 election, in which Biden emerged victorious, Dominion maintained that its business suffered due to what it termed “verifiably false lies” propagated by various media outlets, including Newsmax. The company sought as much as $1.6 billion in damages before the settlement was finalized.
Although Newsmax announced the settlement on a recent Monday, the network insisted that its reporting was rooted in fairness and balance. The network’s position, which echoed a broader narrative among certain conservative media outlets, suggested that it was merely providing coverage on what many of their viewers believed concerning the election results. Despite agreeing to the settlement, Newsmax also communicated its dissatisfaction with the judicial process that led up to the agreement, claiming that the rulings from Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis had unduly favored the plaintiffs.
Judge Davis had previously concluded that Newsmax did indeed defame Dominion, thereby leaving it up to a jury to decide whether there was any malicious intent behind the network’s actions and to determine the amount of damages that should be awarded. With a trial scheduled to commence in October, Newsmax opted to settle, asserting that the legal proceedings had become inherently biased against them.
In its official statement regarding the settlement, Newsmax highlighted that the judicial process had been skewed against them, with a “pattern of judicial rulings” that restricted their ability to mount a defense. The network indicated that this context contributed to its overarching belief that a fair trial would be unattainable. The Delaware Superior Court, in response to the settlement and the claims made by Newsmax, refrained from making any comments.
This is not the first time Newsmax has navigated legal challenges pertaining to the election. In the past year, the network also settled another defamation lawsuit against it from Smartmatic, yet another voting machine company, for $40 million. Furthermore, Fox News, another major player in the conservative media landscape, faced similar issues with Dominion and settled for an eye-popping $787.5 million over allegations that mirrored those against Newsmax.
The 2020 election remains a contentious topic, with claims and counterclaims about election integrity dominating the discourse. The allegations made against Dominion Voting Systems have often included baseless accusations of vote deletion and undue influence by political adversaries, propagated not only by various media outlets but also by prominent figures within the Republican Party, including Trump himself.
As part of the settlement agreement with Dominion, Newsmax will make the $67 million payment in three installments. The first payment of $27 million has reportedly been made, with additional payments slated for January 15 in the following two years. The network stated that these payments would be covered through its revenue.
Following the settlement announcement, Newsmax’s stock experienced a notable increase, climbing approximately 15 percent on the New York Stock Exchange. The repercussions of the 2020 presidential election continue to resonate within American society and the political landscape, with ongoing discussions about voting practices and election integrity. In a statement made on social media, Trump echoed his previous sentiments regarding mail-in ballots and voting equipment, signaling that the debate surrounding these issues is far from concluded.
