August 18, 2025 — Conservative media outlet Newsmax has reached a $67 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, ending a years-long defamation battle stemming from its coverage of the 2020 presidential election.
The agreement was quietly disclosed in a recent SEC filing, confirming that Newsmax will pay Dominion in three installments: $27 million immediately, followed by two $20 million payments in January 2026 and January 2027. The deal represents a fraction of the nearly $1.6 billion Dominion originally sought in damages, but it still marks a major legal and financial hit for the network.
How the Case Began
The lawsuit centered on Newsmax’s broadcast of false claims alleging Dominion’s voting machines were used to flip votes from Donald Trump to Joe Biden in 2020. Those claims—echoed by Trump allies and amplified across right-leaning media—were repeatedly debunked by state election officials, courts, and bipartisan investigations.
Dominion alleged that Newsmax deliberately spread these falsehoods in pursuit of ratings and revenue, despite knowing the claims were untrue. In a critical pre-trial ruling, a Delaware judge agreed, determining that Newsmax had defamed Dominion. That ruling set the stage for a jury to consider whether Newsmax had acted with “actual malice”—the legal standard for defamation involving public figures and issues of public concern.
Why Newsmax Settled
Rather than risk a drawn-out and unpredictable trial, Newsmax opted to settle. The company argued it could not receive a fair hearing in Delaware, but said it had decided to resolve the matter in order to move forward and focus on its core business.
The settlement spares Newsmax from the type of drawn-out and highly publicized courtroom spectacle that Fox News endured before it paid Dominion a record-breaking $787.5 million settlement in 2023. Unlike Fox, Newsmax’s smaller size and financial resources may have made the threat of a massive judgment particularly devastating.
Broader Context
This is not Newsmax’s first costly legal battle over its 2020 election coverage. Earlier this year, the network also agreed to pay $40 million to settle a separate lawsuit with Smartmatic, another voting technology company that claimed its reputation was destroyed by unfounded fraud allegations.
Together, the settlements highlight the enormous financial and reputational risks that media outlets face when airing baseless conspiracy theories. While Newsmax has consistently defended its editorial independence, critics argue the network’s reliance on sensational claims to draw viewers directly fueled the lawsuits.
The Fallout
The settlement with Dominion officially closes one of the most high-profile election-related defamation cases still lingering from 2020. But questions remain about the long-term impact on Newsmax’s finances and credibility.
For Dominion, the deal adds to its growing list of legal victories, further solidifying its aggressive strategy of holding media outlets accountable. With Fox, Newsmax, and other lawsuits still pending against smaller defendants, Dominion has managed to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in payouts while reshaping how newsrooms cover politically charged claims about election integrity.
Newsmax, meanwhile, is left to walk a fine line: maintaining its position as a Trump-friendly conservative outlet while avoiding further legal exposure in what remains a polarized and litigious political environment.
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