April 10, 2025
Wilmington, Delaware — In a significant legal development with potential far-reaching implications for press accountability and the 2020 election misinformation fallout, a Delaware judge has ruled that Newsmax broadcast false and defamatory claims about Dominion Voting Systems. The judgment, issued by Superior Court Judge Eric M. Davis, clears the way for Dominion’s $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against the conservative network to proceed to trial on April 28.
Judge Davis—who previously presided over Dominion’s defamation case against Fox News, which resulted in a $787.5 million settlement—determined that Dominion had provided “clear and convincing evidence” that Newsmax aired knowingly inaccurate segments that would lead reasonable viewers to view the voting technology company in a significantly negative light.
Following President Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 election, several right-wing media outlets amplified unsubstantiated allegations that Dominion manipulated vote counts to favor Biden. Newsmax was among those outlets, giving airtime to false narratives claiming Dominion had ties to foreign regimes and was involved in election interference. Some broadcasts even linked Dominion to the late Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chávez—a claim now discredited and legally deemed defamatory.
According to Judge Davis, a statement issued by Newsmax in December 2020—acknowledging no evidence of voter fraud or manipulation—demonstrated that the network was aware of the falsity of earlier broadcasts. This undercuts the network’s defense and strengthens Dominion’s argument that Newsmax acted with “actual malice,” a legal standard requiring proof of knowing falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.
The ruling comes at a volatile time for Newsmax, which recently completed a highly publicized initial public offering. The network’s founder and CEO, Chris Ruddy, has seen a dramatic rise in both public attention and personal wealth. Within days of attending court hearings tied to the Dominion lawsuit, Ruddy rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and shares of Newsmax soared over 1,000% shortly after launch. However, the company’s financial trajectory may now face severe headwinds as it contends with dual legal battles.
In addition to the Dominion case, Newsmax has a looming June 30 deadline to complete a $40 million settlement with Smartmatic USA, another voting technology company that has accused the network of defamation over similar false claims.
In response to the ruling, Newsmax released a statement defending its editorial integrity and framing the lawsuit as a threat to free speech. “This case represents a serious threat to free speech and a free press, and Newsmax will defend itself vigorously at trial,” the company said.
Dominion’s legal team has also won a motion to include Newsmax Broadcasting LLC, a subsidiary of Newsmax Media, Inc., as a defendant in the case. In a last-minute procedural shift, Newsmax attempted to argue, through a late affidavit filed by Ruddy, that Dominion had sued the wrong legal entity—an argument Judge Davis rejected.
As the trial approaches, Dominion’s attorneys are expected to argue that the network’s actions caused measurable reputational and commercial harm, including a loss of clients and revenue opportunities. They describe the damage as a “slow death,” exacerbated by the persistence of falsehoods that have been repeatedly disproven but widely circulated.
The jury will be tasked with determining the extent of the harm inflicted and whether Newsmax’s broadcasts were driven by reckless disregard for the truth. The case stands as a bellwether for the accountability of media outlets that participated in spreading election misinformation and could further define the legal boundaries of press freedom in the digital age.
Media Contact:
Dominion Voting Systems Legal Affairs
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (303) 555-0199
