LEILA FADEL, HOST:
The conservative news network Newsmax has agreed to pay Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems $67 million to settle a defamation case tied to the 2020 presidential election. From Colorado Public Radio, Bente Birkeland has more.
BENTE BIRKELAND, BYLINE: Dominion has been at the center of false claims that its tabulation machines flipped votes from Trump to Biden in the 2020 election. Dominion sued Newsmax and other right-wing media outlets and personalities for defamation back in 2021. At the time, Dominion’s CEO John Poulos said the company took this action because Newsmax and others showed no remorse for their barrage of lies.
JOHN POULOS: So unfortunately, the disinformation continues. And the targeted harassment of our employees and our customers and election officials at large continues.
BIRKELAND: In the most recent settlement, Newsmax did not admit to any wrongdoing. The media company says its 2020 election coverage was fair, balanced and conducted within professional standards of journalism. Colorado’s Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold said she’s glad Newsmax was held accountable for spreading election disinformation.
JENA GRISWOLD: Election lies destabilize our elections and incite violence. Hopefully, this settlement will prevent others from following in the footsteps of knowingly broadcasting election conspiracy theories in the future.
BIRKELAND: Newsmax has already paid part of the $67 million settlement, and according to SEC documents, will pay two more installments by the end of January 2027.
For NPR News, I’m Bente Birkeland in Colorado.
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