Newsmax has agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $67 million to settle a defamation lawsuit tied to false claims about the 2020 presidential election. The deal, announced this week, follows a court ruling that determined the conservative media outlet broadcast false and damaging statements regarding Dominion’s role in election technology.
The settlement ends a years-long legal battle in which Dominion accused Newsmax of amplifying baseless allegations that its machines were used to rig the election in favor of President Joe Biden. A judge had already found that Newsmax’s coverage crossed into defamation, leaving only the question of damages to be determined by a jury if the case went to trial.
By settling, Newsmax avoids the risk of a costly trial and an even larger payout. The agreement requires the network to pay $27 million immediately, with the remaining balance due by January 2027. Dominion confirmed the settlement in a statement, describing the resolution as another step in holding media outlets accountable for spreading misinformation about the election.
The deal mirrors the larger case Dominion brought against Fox News, which ended last year with Fox paying $787.5 million, one of the largest defamation settlements in U.S. history. Dominion has also pursued lawsuits against other figures and organizations that promoted similar conspiracy theories, arguing the the false claims severely damaged its business and reputation.
For Newsmax, the settlement marks a significant financial and reputational blow. The network had built much of its post-2020 audience on election-related coverage that questioned Biden’s victory, but it has since faced mounting legal and public pressure to pull back from those narratives.
The case underscores the ongoing fallout from misinformation tied to the 2020 election. While Dominion has secured major legal victories, the company continues to fight parallel cases against individuals and outlets it accuses of spreading lies about its voting machines.
Source: AV Club