Right-wing network Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation lawsuit over false claims tied to Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss.
The deal, disclosed Monday in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, will see Newsmax pay $27m upfront, followed by $20m in 2026 and another $20m in 2027. Dominion had originally sought $1.6bn in damages.
The case stemmed from false allegations aired by Newsmax suggesting Dominion’s voting machines were used to rig the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden. Earlier rulings by Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis found Newsmax defamed Dominion, though a jury was set to decide whether the outlet acted with malice.
In its statement, Newsmax said it settled because it did not believe it would get a fair trial, but maintained its reporting was consistent with “accepted journalistic standards.” Internal company correspondence, however, revealed executives knew Trump’s fraud claims were baseless.
The settlement comes after Fox News paid Dominion $787.5m in 2023 in a similar case.
Despite numerous lawsuits, recounts, and reviews confirming Biden’s victory, Trump continues to claim, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen.
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