Smartmatic Alleges Newsmax Destroyed Evidence in Defamation Lawsuit
Smartmatic, a voting machine company, has accused Newsmax of destroying evidence in the ongoing defamation lawsuit against the right-wing news channel. Court documents revealed this week show that Smartmatic’s lawyers claim Newsmax engaged in a “cover-up” by deleting texts and emails from key executives that would have demonstrated the network’s knowledge that voting fraud claims were false. These deletions allegedly occurred after Newsmax was instructed to preserve evidence for the lawsuit.
Newsmax Denies Allegations
In response to the accusations, Newsmax issued a statement categorically denying the allegations made by Smartmatic. The lawsuit is part of a series of defamation cases filed by Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems against various news organizations over false claims of election fraud in the 2020 election. Many of these cases are still pending, with some scheduled to go to trial in the fall, ensuring that the controversy surrounding the election will continue to be a focus.
Potential Damages in Defamation Cases
The potential damages in defamation cases like these are significant. For instance, in 2023, Fox News settled with Dominion for $787.5 million just before the trial was set to begin. Smartmatic is seeking unspecified damages from Newsmax in Delaware Superior Court, alleging that the network promoted false claims for profit. The case is set to go to trial in September.
Allegations of Evidence Destruction
Smartmatic’s latest filing highlights specific text messages involving Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy and Trump’s attorney Sidney Powell, which Smartmatic claims were deleted from Ruddy’s devices but saved by other witnesses. The filing also accuses Newsmax of lying under oath about its journalistic guidelines. Smartmatic’s attorney, J. Erik Connolly, stated that Newsmax’s misconduct went beyond false accusations and included attempts to conceal evidence and disregard journalistic standards.
Ongoing Litigation and Settlements
Smartmatic is also suing Fox News for $2.7 billion in damages over similar claims, with the trial expected to begin in early 2025. In a separate case, Smartmatic settled a lawsuit against OANN, another right-wing news channel. Dominion still has pending suits against OANN and Newsmax, and both companies have filed suits against Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and Mike Lindell. The legal battles continue as these news organizations face scrutiny over their coverage of election fraud allegations.
Original Story at www.nbcnews.com – 2024-05-21 21:15:58
