Newsmax Settles Dominion Case for 67 Million

Dominion sued Newsmax for defamation over 2020 election coverage and Newsmax settled for 67 million.

Newsmax Settles Dominion Defamation Case for 67 Million

Newsmax has agreed to pay 67 million dollars to Dominion in a defamation settlement in Delaware. Dominion had accused the network of broadcasting verifiably false lies after Joe Biden won the 2020 election, causing what it described as devastating economic harm. A trial was set to begin in October, and a Delaware judge had already ruled Newsmax defamed Dominion, while a jury would decide on malice and damages if the case had gone to trial.

Newsmax said it settled because it believed the proceedings were unfair and that the judge’s rulings had favored the plaintiffs from the start. The network argued it stood by its election coverage and urged the public to hear both sides of the disputes. Dominion welcomed the settlement, while noting it pursued similar actions against other networks. The case follows related disputes, including Smartmatic’s prior settlement with Newsmax and a much larger award against Fox News in 2023 over similar claims."

The settlement signals that large political coverage comes with real legal risks for media outlets, even those on the right. It underscores that claims of misinformation can lead to meaningful costs and force a pause in aggressive post-election narratives. The outcome may push outlets to tighten fact checking and curb risky rhetoric about election integrity, especially as investors, lawmakers, and audiences demand greater accountability.

At the same time, the decision leaves room for ongoing debate about what counts as defamation and about due process in politically charged cases. Newsmax frames the settlement as a step back from a fair trial, while Dominion frames it as accountability for harmful claims. The broader pattern includes high-profile settlements from other networks, hinting at a trend where the economics of misinformation increasingly shapes press coverage of elections.

Highlights

Readers should watch how courts balance free speech with accountability in a new era of election coverage.