NewsMax Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems

On Monday, NewsMax Media Inc. finalized a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems regarding a defamation lawsuit aimed at the news network. NewsMax has agreed to pay $67 million over the next three fiscal years, a sum significantly lower than the $787.5 million that FOX News settled for with Dominion earlier in April 2023. This lawsuit primarily dealt with claims related to Dominion’s reputation in light of the 2020 presidential election.

The initial payment of $27 million was made on August 15. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, an additional $20 million will be paid between January 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Dominion had initially sought $1.6 billion in damages.

In a tweet, NewsMax announced the settlement, stating it had resolved a lawsuit filed by Dominion in Delaware Superior Court back in 2021, referring to the matter as a “delinquent loss.”

Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric M. Davis noted in April that Dominion had presented “clear and persuasive evidence” of defamatory statements made by NewsMax. The network expressed concerns that the judge might not ensure a fair trial, leading them to seek a jury trial to determine if NewsMax acted with “actual malice.”

In a statement, NewsMax maintained that it aimed to be “fair, balanced, and uphold the professional standards of journalism.” The network criticized Judge Davis for allegedly favoring the plaintiffs, claiming he ignored “critical context” and exhibited procedural discrepancies.

According to NewsMax, they felt it was vital to cover both sides of the contentious election debates from 2020. They reiterated their commitment to fair and balanced journalism.

Dominion, as reported by Politico, expressed satisfaction with the settlement outcome. The company also mentioned having reached a substantial settlement with FOX News for alleged damaging comments made about them following the 2020 election.