Newsmax Pays $67M to Dominion over Bogus 2020 Election Claims/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Conservative outlet Newsmax agreed to pay $67 million to settle a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems over false claims tied to the 2020 election. The case follows Fox News’ record-breaking $787.5 million payout in 2023 and adds to Newsmax’s earlier $40 million Smartmatic settlement. Court documents reveal that Newsmax leaders knew the claims were false but aired them anyway to retain pro-Trump viewers.
Key Highlights of the Newsmax Settlement
- Newsmax agrees to pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems.
- Judge had already ruled Newsmax defamed Dominion with false 2020 election coverage.
- A jury trial on “actual malice” and damages was avoided through settlement.
- Settlement follows Fox News’ $787.5 million deal in 2023.
- Newsmax previously paid $40 million to settle with Smartmatic.
- Internal documents show Newsmax executives knew fraud claims were false.
- Dominion targeted due to Trump allies’ conspiracy theories linking voting machines to election fraud.
- Trump continues to promote debunked claims while vowing to ban voting machines.
Full Story: Newsmax Pays $67M in Dominion Defamation Case
DENVER — August 18, 2025
Conservative news network Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems, ending another major legal battle over disinformation tied to the 2020 presidential election.
The settlement, disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), comes just before a trial that could have exposed internal communications from the network. Dominion accused Newsmax of spreading false claims that its voting machines helped Joe Biden defeat Donald Trump, despite a lack of evidence.
The Court’s Findings Before Settlement
Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis had already ruled that Newsmax defamed Dominion by airing false information about its voting systems. The unresolved question was whether Newsmax acted with actual malice — knowingly spreading lies or recklessly disregarding the truth.
By settling, Newsmax avoids a jury trial and the possibility of paying even larger damages. Dominion expressed satisfaction with the outcome, while Newsmax insisted it had provided “fair and balanced” coverage of election disputes.
Newsmax Joins Fox and Smartmatic in Election-Claim Payouts
- Fox News: Paid $787.5 million in 2023 to settle Dominion’s defamation case.
- Newsmax (previously): Paid $40 million to settle a similar lawsuit from Smartmatic, another voting machine company.
- Total payouts: More than $894 million combined against media outlets over 2020 election lies.
What the Internal Documents Show
Court filings revealed that Newsmax executives and hosts knew the claims were false:
- Anchor Bob Sellers asked colleagues two days after the election: “How long are we going to play along with election fraud?”
- Employees privately warned against allowing Trump lawyer Sidney Powell on-air, fearing reputational damage.
- Even Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, a Trump ally, privately admitted being “scared” that Trump was meeting with Powell.
Despite these warnings, Newsmax leaned into the conspiracy theories, partly because it saw a business opportunity in attracting viewers upset with Fox News for acknowledging Biden’s victory.
Dominion at the Center of False Claims
Dominion Voting Systems, headquartered in Denver, became the focus of baseless conspiracy theories:
- Trump allies claimed, without evidence, that Dominion’s machines were rigged.
- Some guests falsely tied the technology to deceased Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
- By December 2020, Newsmax had retracted several of the most extreme allegations.
Still, the damage was done. Dominion argued the network’s false reporting harmed its reputation, contracts, and credibility worldwide.
Trump’s Role and Ongoing Election Denials
The settlement comes as Donald Trump continues to push the false narrative that the 2020 election was stolen. On the same day the settlement was disclosed, Trump posted online pledging to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines — including those provided by Dominion.
“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS and Highly Inaccurate, Very Expensive, and Controversial VOTING MACHINES,” Trump wrote.
Legal experts note that Trump has no clear authority to impose such restrictions. Every state administers its own elections, and all 50 states currently offer some form of absentee or mail-in voting.
Repeated Legal Failures of Fraud Claims
The 2020 election saw:
- Dozens of lawsuits from Trump’s campaign and allies — all rejected, including by Trump-appointed judges.
- Multiple recounts and audits, even in Republican-led states, confirming Biden’s victory.
- Statements from officials, including then-Attorney General William Barr, that no widespread fraud existed.
Still, networks like Newsmax amplified conspiracy theories, leading to the lawsuits from Dominion and Smartmatic.
Broader Implications for Media and Politics
The Newsmax settlement underscores the legal risks for media outlets that knowingly spread disinformation. It also raises questions about the balance between free speech protections and accountability for false reporting.
The settlement adds to growing pressure on conservative media, which has faced financial and reputational damage while continuing to court viewers skeptical of U.S. elections.
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