Newsmax to Pay $67M in Dominion Defamation Settlement

• Aug 19, 2025

Conservative television network Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, which accused the channel of spreading false claims that its machines rigged the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The agreement, revealed in court documents on Monday, ends a case that was heading toward trial.

The lawsuit stemmed from Newsmax’s coverage of conspiracy theories promoted by allies of former President Donald Trump, who falsely insisted the election was stolen. Dominion argued that Newsmax knowingly aired baseless allegations that its voting equipment switched votes from Trump to Joe Biden. Earlier this year, Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis ruled that Newsmax had defamed Dominion but left it to a jury to decide whether the network acted with malice.

The settlement comes after Fox News paid $787.5 million in 2023 to resolve a similar defamation case with Dominion. Newsmax also paid $40 million last year to settle a separate libel case brought by another voting machine company, Smartmatic.

According to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, Newsmax will pay Dominion in three installments: $27 million initially, followed by two $20 million payments, with the final installment due in January 2027. Dominion said in a statement it was “pleased to have settled this matter.”

Despite the payout, Newsmax has continued to deny wrongdoing. The network insisted its coverage was “fair, balanced, and conducted within professional standards of journalism,” adding that it believed it was important to present “both sides” of the disputes following the 2020 election.

Court documents, however, showed that internal communications at Newsmax revealed doubts about the fraud claims. Employees, including hosts and executives, raised concerns about promoting false allegations from pro-Trump figures such as attorney Sidney Powell. Even Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy privately admitted he was uneasy about Trump’s meetings with Powell, describing them as “scary.”

The case also highlighted how Newsmax sought to appeal to Trump supporters by refusing to immediately acknowledge Biden’s victory, seeing a business opportunity in attracting viewers who believed the election was stolen. Judge Davis, who also presided over Dominion’s case against Fox News, previously ruled that the claims aired were “CRYSTAL clear” falsehoods.

The settlement was disclosed just as Trump renewed his attacks on voting machines, vowing on social media to eliminate them before the 2026 midterm elections. However, numerous court rulings, audits, and recounts — many led by Republicans — have confirmed there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 race.