Right-wing network Newsmax settles Smartmatic defamation lawsuit

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As a seasoned film buff who has seen more courtroom dramas than I care to remember, this latest chapter in the saga of post-2020 election misinformation feels eerily similar to a real-life script. The twists and turns, the characters involved, and the stakes are all too high. It’s like watching a thriller unfold, but instead of a courtroom, it’s a news network studio, and instead of a jury, we have the American people.

In simpler terms, Newsmax has reached an agreement to resolve a defamation case filed by the voting machine company Smartmatic. The lawsuit was based on Newsmax’s allegedly false reports about fraud accusations made during the 2020 presidential election.

On Thursday, an agreement was struck between us, as we found ourselves on the brink of a court case in Delaware, with the jury selection process set to commence. It’s a relief to have come to terms, I must say.

Newsmax is happy to share that they have settled their lawsuit with Smartmatic confidentially,” stated the network based in Boca Raton, Florida.

Smartmatic alleged that Newsmax allowed Trump, his legal team, and associates to spread misinformation on their platform, claiming without evidence that Smartmatic’s software had been tampered with to favor President Biden in the election.

In the year 2020, Smartmatic’s machinery was utilized solely within Los Angeles County, unlike the key battleground states that influenced the outcome of the election.

On Newsmax, numerous unsubstantiated assertions regarding alleged fraud were extensively discussed, even though Trump’s court challenges were dismissed outright and no solid evidence of such fraud was presented. Smartmatic contends that they suffered financial losses due to false claims made against them.

Fox News faces a potential $2.7-billion defamation trial over similar allegations, set for next year in New York courts (paraphrased).

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2024-09-26 23:31