Newsmax to Pay $67 Million in Dominion Defamation Settlement

Major Settlement for Newsmax Over Defamation Claims

Newsmax, a conservative news network, has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a lawsuit that accused it of defaming a voting equipment company by spreading false information about President Donald Trump's 2020 election loss. The lawsuit was brought by Dominion Voting Systems, which claimed the network published misleading and defamatory statements suggesting the company had rigged the election. This development comes after a Delaware judge ruled partially in favor of Dominion earlier this year.

This settlement follows a similar case involving Fox News Channel, which paid $787.5 million in 2023 to resolve a defamation lawsuit. Additionally, Newsmax had previously settled a libel lawsuit with Smartmatic, another voting machine manufacturer, paying $40 million according to court documents.

Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis had determined that Newsmax did indeed defame Dominion by airing false information about the company and its equipment. However, he left it to a jury to decide whether the network acted with malice and, if so, what damages should be awarded. Before the trial could proceed, Newsmax and Dominion reached a settlement.

Dominion expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stating in a statement to CBS News that it was "pleased to have settled this matter." The settlement details were first revealed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing by Newsmax, dated August 15, the day the deal was finalized. According to the filing, Newsmax will make three installments of $27 million, $20 million, and $20 million, with the final payment due in January 2027.

Despite the settlement, Newsmax continues to deny allegations that its coverage of Dominion during the 2020 election was defamatory. In a statement on its website, the network emphasized that it believed it was important for the American public to hear both sides of the election disputes. It maintained that its coverage was fair, balanced, and conducted within professional journalistic standards.

The settlement announcement coincided with former President Trump's vow to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines, such as those provided by Dominion and other companies, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. His social media post highlighted his belief that these systems are inaccurate, expensive, and controversial. He suggested replacing them with watermark paper, which he claims is faster and more reliable.

Judge Eric Davis also presided over the Dominion-Fox News case, where he found that the network repeated numerous false claims about Trump's 2020 loss, despite internal communications indicating that Fox officials knew the claims were baseless. At the time, Davis stated it was "crystal clear" that none of the allegations were true.

Internal correspondence from Newsmax officials shows that they were aware of the falsehoods surrounding the election claims. For instance, a Newsmax host questioned how long the network would continue to support election fraud claims just two days after the 2020 election was called for Joe Biden. Internal documents also reveal that Newsmax saw a business opportunity in catering to viewers who believed Trump had won.

Employees at Newsmax repeatedly warned against false allegations from pro-Trump guests like attorney Sidney Powell, according to the lawsuit documents. Even Newsmax owner Chris Ruddy, a Trump ally, expressed concern about Trump meeting with Powell.

Dominion became central to many of the conspiracy theories aired on Newsmax and other platforms, including claims involving deceased Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rigging machines for Biden. The network later retracted some of these extreme allegations in December 2020.

Although Trump has insisted his fraud claims are real, there is no evidence to support them. Lawsuits against Fox and Newsmax demonstrate that some of Trump's supporters were aware of the falsehoods at the time. Former Attorney General William Barr stated there was no evidence of widespread fraud.

Trump's legal challenges to the election were largely unsuccessful, with numerous recounts, reviews, and audits—some conducted by Republicans—confirming Biden's victory. After returning to office, Trump pardoned individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and directed his Department of Justice to investigate Chris Krebs, a former cybersecurity appointee who affirmed the security of the 2020 election.

As the initial trial date approached in the Dominion case, Trump issued an executive order targeting the law firm Susman Godfrey, which represented Dominion and Fox News. The order, part of a broader effort to target law firms that had clashed with Trump, cited Susman Godfrey's work on election cases and threatened to cut off government business with its clients. A federal judge temporarily halted the action, calling it a "shocking abuse of power."