Smartmatic and Newsmax reached a settlement in the voting technology company’s election defamation lawsuit against the right-wing media outlet shortly before the case went to trial.
The lawsuit focused on Newsmax’s false claims that Smartmatic’s machines rigged the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden.
A trial was set to begin Monday, with a jury expected to determine whether Newsmax defamed Smartmatic by disseminating allegations with actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth, whether it harmed the company and whether any damages were owed .
Samira Saba, a spokeswoman for Smartmatic, said Thursday that the company was “pleased to have achieved a successful outcome in the case against Newsmax.”
“There are consequences for lying to the American people,” Saba said in a statement. “Smartmatic will not stop until the perpetrators are held accountable.”
Newsmax said in a statement that the dispute was resolved “through a confidential settlement.”
Details of the settlement were not immediately available.
Smartmatic sued Newsmax Media in 2021, alleging that Smartmatic’s devices rigged the 2020 election. Newsmax claimed that it was reporting on newsworthy events and maintained the truth of some of the claims in question.
Former President Donald Trump and his allies continued to promote false claims that the 2020 election results were manipulated in Biden’s favor. After Trump’s loss nearly four years ago, his lawyers focused attention on Smartmatic as a key target to support their claims.
Smartmatic settled a similar defamation lawsuit against One America News in April for an amount that was not publicly disclosed. The company is still engaged in a legal battle with Fox News that could go to trial next year.
Fox News’ parent company, Fox Corp., agreed last year to pay $787.5 million to another election technology company, Dominion Voting Systems, to settle defamation claims on the day that case was scheduled to be filed. judged.
