Newsmax Reaches $67 Million Settlement with Dominion Over Defamation Claims
Conservative cable channel Newsmax has agreed to a $67 million settlement with voting technology company Dominion Voting Systems. This agreement resolves a high-stakes defamation lawsuit concerning the network’s false coverage of the 2020 presidential election. The settlement was disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Monday and is the latest costly resolution from legal battles sparked by unfounded election fraud claims.
As per the agreement, Newsmax will make payments in three installments:
- $27 million already paid on August 15
- $20 million due by January 15, 2026
- $20 million due by January 15, 2027
The lawsuit initially sought $1.6 billion in damages, following a similar legal action that resulted in Fox News paying Dominion $787.5 million in 2023. Judge Eric Davis ruled that Newsmax aired more than two dozen defamatory statements about Dominion in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
The settlement arrives as media companies continue to face legal repercussions for amplifying conspiracy theories about voting technology companies. Newsmax previously settled with another voting systems company, Smartmatic, for $40 million last year. This highlights the ongoing financial impact of election misinformation coverage.
Source: CNN