Pro-Trump outlet to pay $67mln in defamation lawsuit settlement
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Conservative news outlet Newsmax is set to pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems as a settlement for a defamation lawsuit over false 2020 election claims.
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A monitor showing Dominion Voting Image Cast Central display tab is seen as Cobb County Election officials count ballots on a machine, Tuesday, Nov 24, 2020, in Marietta, Georgia. (AP)
Conservative cable network Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems over false claims related to the 2020 US presidential election. The settlement marks another significant legal defeat for media outlets that amplified baseless allegations of election fraud.
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Newsmax confirmed that it had already paid Dominion $27 million on Friday. The network will pay an additional $20 million in 2026 and the final $20 million in 2027.
This settlement follows a similar high-profile case in which Fox News agreed to pay $787.5 million to Dominion in April 2023, after internal communications revealed that its executives and hosts privately acknowledged the fraud claims were false but continued to air them.
Dominion’s legal battle against false election claims
Dominion Voting Systems, founded in 2003 by John Poulos and James Hoover and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, supplies electronic voting machines and ballot scanners to over 40% of American voters across 28 states.
The company filed its lawsuit against Newsmax in 2021, seeking $1.6 billion in damages over claims that Dominion’s software altered vote counts to favor Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump. These conspiracy theories, heavily promoted by Trump allies, were thoroughly debunked by election officials, courts, and recounts.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) described the 2020 election as “the most secure in American history,” confirming there was no evidence of vote manipulation.
Newsmax’s defense, settlement decision
In a statement, Newsmax said it chose to settle because it did not believe it could receive a fair trial under Delaware Judge Eric Davis, who had already ruled that the network broadcast defamatory statements about Dominion.
“The pattern of judicial rulings that consistently denied Newsmax due process left the Company to believe it would not receive a fair trial,” the network said. Despite settling, Newsmax insisted its reporting was consistent with journalistic standards and maintained that its coverage was not defamatory.
Newsmax, founded in 1998 by former journalist Christopher Ruddy, launched its television channel in 2014 to compete with Fox News. The network experienced a dramatic ratings surge during the aftermath of the 2020 election, drawing viewers who felt Fox News was not sufficiently aligned with Trump.
Fox News, Smartmatic, and ongoing lawsuits
Newsmax is not alone in facing legal challenges over its coverage of the 2020 election. In 2024, Newsmax settled a separate defamation lawsuit with Smartmatic for $40 million, avoiding trial.
Fox News still faces a $2.7 billion lawsuit from Smartmatic, with trial proceedings expected as early as 2026. The growing list of settlements underscores the financial and reputational costs of promoting false election narratives.
Election conspiracy theories, their aftermath
False claims promoted by Trump allies included allegations that Dominion’s software flipped votes, that foreign governments interfered in the election, and that a US government supercomputer manipulated results.
These narratives fueled widespread distrust in the election process and contributed to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, when Trump supporters sought to block certification of Biden’s victory. More than 1,600 people have been charged in connection with the riot.
Trump’s push to ban voting machines and mail-in ballots
The settlement comes as Trump intensifies efforts to reshape US election systems. On August 18, 2025, Trump announced plans to sign an executive order banning voting machines and mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump claimed such methods were “inaccurate” and suggested elections should return to paper ballots. Legal experts, however, note that under the Constitution, only state legislatures and Congress, not the president, have authority over election rules.
