The defamation case pitting Newsmax against Dominion Voting systems is heading to trial in Delaware. Judge Eric M. Davis handed down a ruling on on Wednesday that set the start date for April 28.
A Delaware jury will now determine whether Newsmax acted with malice in its coverage of Dominion’s role in the 2020 presidential election, which falsely alleged that the company rigged votes.
“Newsmax covered both sides of the 2020 election dispute fairly,” the network told TVNewser in a statement. “At no time did it defame Dominion. This case represents a serious threat to free speech and a free press,, and Newsmax will defend itself vigorously at trial.”
In his ruling, Judge Davis acknowledged that segments that aired on Newsmax presented inaccurate information about Dominion. “[Those segments] would likely cause reasonable viewers to think significantly less favorably about Dominion than if the viewers knew the truth,” he wrote.
But the ruling stopped short of finding the network guilty of defamation. Instead, that will be left up to the jury.
Newsmax issued an on-air clarification about its coverage in December 2020 that also included Smartmatic, which brought its own $40 million lawsuit against the network. The two sides reached a settlement in March.
Judge Davis used the 2020 clarification as further proof the network “acknowledged the falsity” of its reports regarding Dominion’s role in the election.
Dominion settled a separate defamation suit with Fox News in 2023 for $787.5 million just as its trial against the network was set to begin.
Meanwhile, Newsmax also announced that it has re-signed anchor Greta Van Susteren to a multi-year extension as host of The Record with Greta Van Susteren, which airs weekdays at 6 p.m. ET. The network also enjoyed a stellar debut at the New York Stock Exchange.
“I am grateful to Newsmax for the opportunity afforded me and look forward to continuing to deliver a straight and honest look at the day’s news for my audience,” Susteren said in a statement.
