Smartmatic and Newsmax reach settlement in election defamation case

Smartmatic and Newsmax have reached a settlement in the voting technology company’s election defamation lawsuit against the right-wing news outlet shortly before the case was set to go to trial.

The lawsuit focused on Newsmax's false claims that Smartmatic's machines rigged the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden.

A trial had been scheduled to get underway on Monday, with a jury expected to consider whether Newsmax defamed Smartmatic by airing claims with actual malice or reckless disregard for truth, whether it damaged the company and whether damages were owed.

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Samira Saba, a spokesperson for Smartmatic, said Thursday that the company was “pleased to have secured the completion of the case against Newsmax.”

"Lying to the American people has consequences," Saba said in a statement. "Smartmatic will not stop until the perpetrators are held accountable."

Newsmax said in a statement that the litigation was resolved “through a confidential settlement.”

Details of the settlement were not immediately available.

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Smartmatic sued Newsmax Media in 2021, alleging it claimed Smartmatic’s devices rigged the 2020 election. Newsmax contended that it was reporting on newsworthy events and stood by the veracity of some of the claims in question.

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Former President Donald Trump and his allies have continued to promote false claims that the 2020 election results were manipulated to favor Biden. After Trump's loss nearly four years ago, his attorneys drew attention to Smartmatic as a key target to bolster their claims.

Smartmatic in April settled a similar defamation lawsuit against One America News for a sum that was not disclosed publicly. The company is still engaged in a legal battle against Fox News that may go to trial next year.

Fox News' parent company, Fox Corp., agreed last year to pay $787.5 million to another election technology company, Dominion Voting Systems, to settle defamation claims the day that case was scheduled to go to trial.