Newsmax Reaches $67 Million Settlement with Dominion Over 2020 Election Defamation

Published Time: 08-18-2025, 21:55

Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems, ending a high-profile defamation lawsuit linked to false claims about the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The settlement, disclosed in a recent financial filing, spares the conservative news outlet from facing a jury trial that could have further damaged its reputation and finances.

Settlement Details

According to the filing, Newsmax will pay Dominion $27 million immediately, followed by $40 million spread over the next two years. The agreement was finalized last week and revealed publicly on Monday.

Dominion Voting Systems, which provides election technology across the United States, confirmed the settlement but offered no further comment. “We are pleased to have settled this matter,” a Dominion spokesperson told CNN.

Notably, the agreement does not require Newsmax to issue an on-air apology or acknowledgment of its role in spreading false claims about the company.

The Origins of the Lawsuit

Dominion filed its lawsuit against Newsmax in August 2021, after the network aired allegations that the company had helped rig the 2020 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden. These unfounded claims were widely promoted by allies of former President Donald Trump, including commentators and guests on Newsmax programs.

Following Trump’s loss, a wave of conspiracy theories emerged suggesting that Dominion’s voting machines were manipulated. The allegations, later proven false, became central to lawsuits brought by Dominion against several media organizations and individuals.

Court Rulings and Trial Postponement

Earlier this year, a Delaware judge determined that Newsmax had aired defamatory content regarding Dominion, specifically by amplifying baseless accusations of election fraud. The judge noted that a jury would need to decide whether the network acted with actual malice and to determine appropriate damages.

A trial was initially set for April but was postponed by the court due to an unrelated professional matter. Before proceedings could resume, both parties reached the $67 million settlement agreement.

Comparison to Fox News Settlement

The outcome echoes a similar case involving Fox News. In April 2023, Fox reached a record $787.5 million settlement with Dominion, avoiding what was expected to be a lengthy and damaging trial. That payout had a significant financial impact on Fox Corporation’s quarterly earnings.

While the Newsmax settlement is much smaller in scale, the network’s audience and revenues are also far smaller. Newsmax’s viewership is estimated at roughly one-tenth the size of Fox’s cable news audience.

Ongoing Defamation Cases

The legal battles stemming from false election claims are far from over. Dominion and other voting technology companies, such as Smartmatic, continue to pursue lawsuits against media outlets and public figures who promoted baseless fraud allegations.

Smartmatic, which also provides election software, is currently engaged in a major defamation lawsuit against Fox News. Newsmax previously settled with Smartmatic for $40 million in 2024, also on the eve of trial.

These settlements highlight the long-lasting consequences of misinformation campaigns tied to the 2020 election. Nearly five years later, courts remain a key battleground for accountability and reputational repair.

Broader Implications

The $67 million agreement underscores the financial risks media outlets face when amplifying false narratives without evidence. Legal experts note that these settlements serve as a warning to news organizations about the potential costs of airing unverified claims.

While Newsmax avoids the uncertainty of a jury verdict, the settlement adds to a growing list of costly legal defeats for media platforms that supported conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election.

For Dominion, the deal continues its strategy of seeking redress through the courts after facing a wave of reputational damage and security threats in the aftermath of the election.