A Delaware judge has ruled against Newsmax, a conservative news outlet, in a defamation case involving Dominion Voting Systems. The judge, Eric M. Davis, stated that Newsmax aired false claims about Dominion’s role in the 2020 presidential election. This ruling comes as Newsmax celebrates a successful initial public offering.
After Joe Biden’s win over Donald Trump in November 2020, many of Trump’s supporters accused Dominion of manipulating the election results. In his opinion, Judge Davis noted that Dominion provided strong evidence that Newsmax’s broadcasts contained misleading information. He pointed out that these inaccuracies could lead viewers to have a negative perception of Dominion.
Davis emphasized that Newsmax had acknowledged the falsehoods in its broadcasts when it issued a clarification in December 2020, stating there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud. This admission may play a significant role in the upcoming trial, where a jury will determine whether Newsmax acted with "actual malice"—meaning they either knew the information was false or showed a reckless disregard for the truth.
This ruling marks another victory for Dominion, following a similar defamation lawsuit against Fox News, which resulted in a massive settlement of $787.5 million just before trial. In response to the latest ruling, Newsmax has maintained that it reported on the issue fairly and plans to defend itself vigorously in court. The company argues that the lawsuit poses a serious threat to free speech and the press.
The trial is set to begin later this month. If it proceeds, the jury will decide on potential damages and whether Newsmax’s broadcasts were made with reckless disregard for the truth. Meanwhile, Newsmax is also dealing with a separate lawsuit from Smartmatic, another voting technology company, which claims defamation related to the 2020 election.
Newsmax’s founder and CEO, Christopher Ruddy, has had a whirlwind few weeks. He was present in court as Dominion’s lawyers sought to hold him and other executives accountable. Just days later, he was promoting Newsmax’s public launch, which saw its stock soar dramatically, making him a billionaire almost overnight. As the legal battles continue, the financial future of Newsmax hangs in the balance.