**Newsmax Settles Defamation Case with Smartmatic, Avoiding Disastrous Trial**

Newsmax, the news network known for promoting Donald Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy theories, has settled its defamation lawsuit with voting machine company Smartmatic. The precise terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, but the agreement allows Newsmax to dodge a potentially catastrophic trial. The decision to settle came just hours after jury selection began in Wilmington, Delaware.

Smartmatic had filed the lawsuit in 2021, accusing Newsmax and One America News Network of damaging its reputation by endorsing unfounded claims that the company manipulated vote counts to ensure Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. Smartmatic welcomed the settlement, expressing satisfaction in a statement on its website and asserting its commitment to pursuing legal action against Fox Corp and Fox News for similar reasons.

Newsmax confirmed the settlement on its website, stating that it had resolved the litigation with Smartmatic confidentially. Both companies provided few details following the settlement announcement, and inquiries by various media outlets, including Gizmodo, yielded no additional information.

Fox News, also facing a lawsuit from Smartmatic and having settled a similar defamation case with Dominion Voting Systems for $787 million in 2021, commented on the resolution. According to Fox, Smartmatic encountered setbacks that weakened its case against Newsmax, including the significant reduction of its damage claims from $1.7 billion to $370 million and recent federal bribery indictments of Smartmatic executives. Despite these challenges, Smartmatic remains determined to hold media companies accountable for spreading misinformation.

The settlement marks another considerable financial consequence for media outlets that promoted baseless allegations surrounding the 2020 presidential election. The ongoing legal battles underline the significant repercussions for those involved in disseminating false information to the public.