Newsmax pays $67 million for spreading Trump's 2020 election lies as mail-in ballot ban looms

Newsmax agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $67 million on Aug. 18, 2025, for spreading false 2020 election claims

The settlement follows Fox News paying $787.5 million to Dominion for similar election disinformation

Delaware Judge Eric Davis ruled Newsmax statements were false and defamatory, but left the question of actual malice for jury trial

Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy privately wrote in Nov. 2020 that the network had no evidence of election fraud, yet continued broadcasting claims

The $67 million will be paid in three installments: $27 million on Aug. 15, 2025, $20 million by Jan. 15, 2026, $20 million by Jan. 15, 2027

Newsmax was not required to apologize or issue retractions as part of the settlement agreement

Newsmax previously settled a separate $40 million lawsuit with Smartmatic in Sep. 2024 for similar election fraud claims

The settlement coincides with Trump's announced plans to eliminate mail-in ballots using same debunked fraud claims