WILMINGTON, Delaware, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Newsmax Media reached a confidential settlement of a lawsuit by Smartmatic, the voting machine maker that had alleged it was defamed by the news outlet’s false claims that its machines were rigged to help steal the 2020 U.S. presidential election from Donald Trump, the companies said on Thursday.
The agreement came on the eve of a four-week jury trial, with opening arguments scheduled to begin in Wilmington, Delaware on Sept. 30.
“Newsmax is pleased to announce it has resolved the litigation brought by Smartmatic through a confidential settlement,” the company said in a statement.
Smartmatic also said in a statement it was pleased to have reached a deal. “Lying to the American people has consequences. Smartmatic will not stop until the perpetrators are held accountable.”
Smartmatic sued Newsmax in 2021, alleging it broadcast damaging misinformation falsely claiming the company switched votes in the 2020 election, that its machines were hacked and that it was funded by corrupt dictators.
Smartmatic alleged that Newsmax profited from its false reporting. Trump amplified Newsmax’s reporting on social media and the broadcaster’s audience jumped 10-fold after the election, vaulting it over cable news rivals such as CNBC and Fox Business, according to Nielsen Ratings.
I soooo wish these companies wouldn’t settle. It’s probably “business smart”, but I wan’t someone to admit their wrongs. (wishfull thinking)
And that’s exactly why they wanted to settle; trying to avoid having to publicly admit it
Apparently “held accountable” is “got secret amounts of cash”.
Did you mean “had to pay secret amounts of cash”? Because Newsmax is paying here, not getting.
Yes
I appreciate the irony of a so-named “news” corp keeping the terms of the settlement secret
Beautiful … disrupt an election and tie up the explanation long enough that everyone forgets about it all and the next election comes along so that they can do it all again.
The power of money is that you can do whatever you want and whenever you’re actions are challenged or made accountable, you just throw everything in court long enough to the point where no one pays attention, no one remembers and no one cares any more.
confidential settlement
FFS! I know that that’s how it usually goes, but it’s 100% crucial to the public interest to KNOW the terms and amount!
It shouldn’t ever be allowed for a settlement in a case like this to be kept secret.
Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know, Smartmatic, Just Made A Great Point, getting the settlement.
