Newsmax to pay $67 million to settle Dominion suit over 2020 election fraud claims

Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times on Aug 18, 2025

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Newsmax will pay $67 million to settle a defamation suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems over false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election that aired on the right-wing news channel.

The network announced the settlement with the voting equipment maker Monday but did not apologize for its reporting.

“Newsmax believed it was critically important for the American people to hear both sides of the election disputes that arose in 2020,” the company said in a statement. “We stand by our coverage as fair, balanced, and conducted within professional standards of journalism.”

Earlier this year, Delaware Court Judge Eric Davis ruled that Newsmax made defamatory statements about Dominion in its reporting on President Donald Trump’s allegations that the company was involved in rigging the 2020 presidential election to favor Joe Biden.

He was ready to send the case to a jury that would have determined whether Newsmax acted with malice and whether any damages should be awarded to Dominion.

Newsmax was among the channels presenting false claims by Trump’s allies and supporters that Dominion, a provider of vote-counting machines and software, was created in Venezuela to rig elections for leader Hugo Chavez and that it has the ability to switch votes.

“We are pleased to have settled this matter,” a Dominion representative said in a statement.

According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Newsmax will pay Dominion in three installments. A $20-million payment was made Friday and another $20 million will be paid on or before Jan. 15, 2026. The final payment will be due on Jan. 15, 2027.

Fox News settled a similar case with Dominion in April 2023 for $787.5 million after it aired incorrect election claims.

There was no evidence of significant fraud in the 2020 election won by Biden. The courts rejected all but one of 62 lawsuits filed by Trump and others who challenged the election results.

Newsmax argued that its 2020 election coverage was based on allegations that were made by the president, his advisors and members of Congress, and were therefore newsworthy and protected by the 1st Amendment.

Newsmax previously settled a defamation suit filed by Smartmatic, another voting equipment company that has sued right-wing outlets over their reporting on Trump’s false claims. Newsmax paid $40 million last year to settle the case.

In that case, Davis also ruled that false statements were made, but ruled that Smartmatic had to prove the actual financial damage of Newsmax’s actions.

Smartmatic is in litigation with Fox News, looking for $2.7 billion in damages. If the case isn’t settled, it will go to trial in New York next year.

Fox News has argued that there is no evidence Smartmatic has lost any business due to its reporting. The network argued that reporting on Trump’s false claims was newsworthy and protected under the 1st Amendment.

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