Newsmax reaches settlement with Smartmatic regarding 2020 election claims

On the brink of trial, the cable news channel Newsmax on Thursday reached a settlement with voting machine company Smartmatic, bringing an end to a defamation lawsuit that accused the network of spreading multiple false claims surrounding the 2020 election.

Smartmatic had accused Newsmax of publishing dozens of false reports claiming that Smartmatic helped rig the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden. Newsmax had argued, in part, that they were reporting on newsworthy claims of fraud.

"Newsmax is pleased to announce it has resolved the litigation brought by Smartmatic through a confidential settlement," Newsmax said in a statement posted to their website.

In a statement, Smartmatic said they are "very pleased" with the settlement, and referenced to their ongoing case against Fox News.

"Lying to the American People has consequences," the statement said. "We are now looking forward to our day in court against Fox Corp and Fox News for their disinformation campaign. Smartmatic will not stop until the perpetrators are held accountable."

News of the settlement came as jury selection was already underway Thursday in Delaware, according to a court official, ahead of opening statements that were set to begin Monday.

The amount of the settlement was not immediately disclosed. Prior to the settlement, Smartmatic had suffered a setback that included the judge ruling out their ability to seek punitive damages at trial.

Responding to Smartmatic's statement, Fox News pointed to Smartmatic's loss on punitive damages.

"Smartmatic's claims against Fox are similarly impaired, unsupported by the facts and intended to chill First Amendment freedoms. We look forward to defending this case when it goes to trial," Fox's statement said.

In a separate case last year, Dominion Voting Systems reached a $787 million settlement with Fox News in a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit that involved similar claims related to the election.

The Newsmax trial had been set to play out before the same judge that oversaw the Dominion case.