Newsmax Agrees to Pay $67.5 Million to Settle Defamation Lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems
The settlement, one of the largest in defamation history, averts a high-profile trial and forces the conservative network to air a lengthy on-air correction.
(WILMINGTON, Del.) – Cable news channel Newsmax has agreed to pay voting technology company Dominion Voting Systems $67.5 million to settle a blockbuster defamation lawsuit, according to filings in Delaware Superior Court on Tuesday.
The agreement brings a sudden end to a closely watched legal battle that was poised to go to trial next month. The lawsuit accused Newsmax of knowingly spreading false and outlandish claims that Dominion’s machines were used to rig the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump.
A Costly End to False Allegations
The substantial settlement amount is a fraction of the $1.6 billion Dominion had originally sought from Newsmax, but it still ranks as one of the largest defamation payouts ever. Crucially, the deal also includes a formal retraction.
As part of the agreement, Newsmax has committed to air a detailed, on-air statement acknowledging that the allegations against Dominion are false. The statement will clarify that Dominion’s voting machines “accurately counted votes on the 2020 presidential election” and that the network “found no evidence” to support the claims of fraud it repeatedly amplified.
“Money is accountability. This settlement is a testament to the strength of the truth and a warning to others who would consider profiting from lies,” said a Dominion spokesperson following the announcement.
The Core of Dominion’s Case
Dominion’s lawsuit argued that Newsmax, in a race for ratings and viewers against competitors like Fox News, deliberately aired baseless conspiracy theories about the company despite knowing they were false or acting with reckless disregard for the truth.
The network’s hosts and guests claimed, without evidence, that Dominion’s machines could switch votes from one candidate to another and that the company was founded in Venezuela to rig elections for the late dictator Hugo Chávez. These claims were repeatedly debunked by election officials and audits across the country.
In the lead-up to the trial, Dominion’s legal team had amassed a trove of internal Newsmax communications, which they argued showed the network’s hosts and executives privately expressing skepticism about the very claims they were broadcasting.
A Pattern of Accountability
The Newsmax settlement follows a similar, though much larger, pattern. In April 2023, Fox News settled its own defamation lawsuit with Dominion for $787.5 million just as that trial was about to begin. Another right-wing network, One America News (OAN), settled a separate suit with Dominion for an undisclosed amount.
The successive settlements create a powerful precedent, demonstrating that spreading election disinformation can carry extreme financial consequences.
In a statement, Newsmax said the settlement was a business decision to avoid the “costs of litigation” and the distraction of a prolonged trial. The network stated it “stands by its 2020 election coverage” but acknowledges the court’s finding that certain claims about Dominion were false.
Broader Implications for Media
Legal experts say the historic payout sends a seismic shock through the media landscape, particularly for outlets that traffic in inflammatory and unproven political claims.
“This is a costly lesson in the basic principles of journalistic responsibility,” said a First Amendment lawyer not involved in the case. “The verdict from the jury in the court of law is now being matched by a verdict from the marketplace: spreading provable lies is terrible for business. It’s no longer a viable business model.”
The settlement with Newsmax does not end Dominion’s legal challenges. The company still has an active lawsuit against former Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, who were central figures in propagating the election fraud myths.