Newsmax’s election-fraud bill keeps rising as two voting machine firms cash in

Newsmax’s election-fraud bill keeps rising as two voting machine firms cash in
Newsmax’s long tail from the 2020 election just got more expensive. After years of broadcasting false claims about voting technology, the conservative outlet has now agreed to pay both Smartmatic and Dominion, turning conspiracy-fueled coverage into a nine-figure cleanup.

The basic facts are stark: Newsmax agreed to pay Dominion $67 million to resolve a defamation suit tied to false claims that the 2020 election was “rigged.” That came on top of an earlier $40 million settlement with Smartmatic over similar allegations. Taken together, the payouts underscore the same blunt lesson that has already hit other conservative media companies: repeating election falsehoods can carry a very real price.

The two cases were closely related, but not identical. Dominion’s lawsuit focused on Newsmax’s promotion of claims that its systems were part of a stolen election narrative. Smartmatic’s case centered on allegations that its machines helped Joe Biden win in 2020, which the company said damaged its business and reputation. In both disputes, the through line was the same — voting machine companies arguing that Newsmax amplified falsehoods to its audience, and Newsmax ultimately choosing settlement over the risk of a courtroom defeat.

That distinction matters. Settlement is not the same as a trial verdict, but the money involved is still significant. Smartmatic’s agreement was described as confidential before regulatory filings revealed the figure, while Newsmax had warned that the Dominion case could materially hurt its finances. Now that warning looks less hypothetical.

As one report put it, “Newsmax will pay $67 million to settle Dominion voting machine lawsuit.” Another was equally direct: “Newsmax will pay $40 million to settle Smartmatic voting machine allegations.”

Continue reading https://foxvector.com/stories/019fc1c8-13c2-2b46-71bf-29e8434cfd23