Newsmax to Pay $67 Million to Settle Defamation Lawsuit Over 2020 Election Falsehoods

DENVER – The conservative television network Newsmax Media has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by a voting technology company over the network's baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The settlement, announced Monday, marks another significant financial penalty for a media outlet that amplified disproven conspiracy theories about President Donald Trump’s loss.

The agreement averts a potentially damaging trial for Newsmax, which, like other conservative media platforms, faced legal action for repeatedly airing false allegations that voting machines were manipulated to switch votes from Trump to Joe Biden. While the name of the voting equipment company was not immediately disclosed in the settlement announcement, the case is part of a wave of litigation filed by Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic to combat disinformation that they argue has irreparably harmed their businesses and undermined public faith in democratic elections.

This settlement comes on the heels of the landmark $787.5 million payment made by Fox News to Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 for similar on-air falsehoods. While substantially smaller, the Newsmax payment underscores the severe legal and financial jeopardy media organizations face for broadcasting claims without credible evidence.

A Pattern of Disinformation

The lawsuit centered on segments and guest appearances broadcast by Newsmax in the weeks following the 2020 election. The network gave a platform to figures who alleged, without proof, that the voting technology company was part of a vast international conspiracy to rig the election. These claims were consistently debunked by election officials from both political parties, numerous court rulings, and federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which declared the 2020 election "the most secure in American history."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the voting technology company said, "This settlement is a crucial step toward accountability. While no amount of money can fully repair the damage caused by these lies, it sends a clear message that defamation and disinformation have consequences."

Newsmax, in its own statement, acknowledged the resolution of the dispute. "Newsmax is pleased to have resolved this matter," the network said. "We are dedicated to providing a forum for robust debate and are focused on our core mission of delivering fair and balanced news." The network had previously aired a clarification in 2021 acknowledging that it had "no evidence" to support the claims made against the voting company.

The High Cost of Falsehoods

The legal challenges facing media companies over 2020 election coverage have highlighted the high bar for defamation law in the United States, particularly for public figures or matters of public concern. Plaintiffs must prove that a defendant acted with "actual malice"—that is, they knew the statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

The willingness of Fox News and now Newsmax to settle for substantial sums suggests that the voting companies had compiled powerful evidence, likely including internal communications, that would have been presented at trial. These settlements serve as a powerful deterrent and have reshaped the calculus for news organizations covering contentious and unverified claims.

Legal experts note that these cases represent a critical test for holding media organizations accountable in a polarized information ecosystem. Other defamation lawsuits filed by voting technology companies against individuals and other media outlets, including One America News Network (OAN), are still pending. The outcomes of these cases will continue to define the boundaries between free speech and defamatory falsehoods, particularly in the political arena. As the nation looks toward future elections, the financial fallout from the 2020 aftermath serves as a stark reminder of the tangible costs of baseless allegations.