Newsmax has agreed to pay 67 million dollars to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, marking yet another chapter in the long legal fallout stemming from the 2020 presidential election. The settlement follows Dominion’s earlier blockbuster 787 million dollar agreement with Fox News, and like that case, it centered on allegations that false claims of election rigging were broadcast across the network’s programming.

The lawsuit, launched shortly after the 2020 election, accused Newsmax of giving airtime to figures such as former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, both of whom promoted conspiracy theories about Dominion’s voting machines. Judge Eric M. Davis, the same judge who presided over Dominion’s Fox case, had already ruled that the statements made on Newsmax were “false and defamatory.” This ruling set the stage for a jury to decide only whether Newsmax acted with “actual malice” and how much compensation Dominion deserved. Facing that narrow but high-stakes trial, Newsmax opted to settle.

According to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Newsmax paid 27 million dollars on August 15, with the balance due by January 2027. For Dominion, the company argued that years of accusations inflicted irreparable damage, including reputational harm, loss of revenue, and even threats against employees’ lives. A spokesperson for the firm said simply, “We are pleased to have settled this matter,” closing a chapter but underscoring the heavy toll.

For its part, Newsmax maintained in its public statement that its coverage was “fair, balanced, and conducted within professional standards of journalism.” It did not admit wrongdoing, instead arguing that the judge’s rulings had tilted heavily toward Dominion and sharply limited its ability to defend itself. The network said it had believed it was vital for the public to hear “both sides of the election disputes that arose in 2020,” though the courts determined those disputes did not amount to factual reporting.

The settlement adds to a growing list of legal and financial consequences tied to election-related claims. For years, conservative networks leaned heavily on debates over 2020 as both a ratings draw and a political flashpoint. Yet the courtroom costs suggest that the gamble has come at a steep price. Fox News’ payout was the largest defamation settlement in U.S. media history. While Newsmax’s bill is far smaller, 67 million dollars is still a formidable sum for a network with a fraction of Fox’s audience and resources.

The ruling also highlights how courts have increasingly drawn a hard line between opinion and verifiable fact. While robust debate over elections remains central to American democracy, broadcasting demonstrably false statements about a private company crosses a legal threshold. Judge Davis’ decision left Newsmax with little room to argue otherwise.

Beyond the dollars, the case raises broader questions about trust in media and the balance between free speech and accountability. Dominion’s string of legal victories may encourage other companies and individuals targeted by false claims to pursue their own litigation. At the same time, the settlements have fueled ongoing political debates about whether such lawsuits stifle dissenting voices or simply enforce standards of truth.

In the end, Newsmax’s decision to settle was likely as much about survival as it was about principle. The costs of a full trial, both financial and reputational, could have been far worse. But the message is clear: in the battle over the 2020 election, words carried a price tag—one that even seasoned networks are now paying.