Newsmax settles Dominion election defamation case for $67m

August 18, 2025

Newsmax has agreed to pay Dominion $67 million to settle a defamation lawsuit stemming from false claims broadcast about the 2020 US presidential election. The lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused Newsmax of spreading lies about Dominion rigging the election against Donald Trump, causing significant economic harm to the voting machine company. While Newsmax has settled the case, the network maintains its coverage was fair and balanced, claiming it chose to settle because it believed court proceedings were unfair after Judge Eric Davis had already ruled that Newsmax defamed Dominion.

Who is affected

Dominion (voting machine company)
Newsmax (US TV network)
Newsmax shareholders (as stock rose 15% following the filing)
Newsmax viewers who received the false information
The American public who were exposed to election misinformation

What action is being taken

Newsmax is paying a $67 million settlement to Dominion
The payment is being made in three installments ($27 million already paid, $20 million due January 15, and the final payment on January 15, 2027)
Newsmax is funding the settlement from its revenue
Dominion is accepting the settlement (which is significantly less than the $1.6 billion it sought)

Why it matters

The settlement addresses false claims that damaged Dominion's reputation and caused "devastating economic harm"
It represents accountability for broadcasting election misinformation
This case is part of a broader pattern of legal consequences for networks that spread false claims about the 2020 election
The settlement is significantly smaller than Fox News' $787.5 million settlement with Dominion over similar allegations
The case highlights the tension between broadcasting competing political viewpoints and spreading demonstrably false information

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC