Fox News agreed to pay over $787 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle its defamation lawsuit but the network's legal troubles are far from over.
Smartmatic, another voting technology company embroiled in TrumpWorld conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, has also sued the conservative media company airing baseless claims about the company. Smartmatic is demanding $2.7 billion in financial compensation from Fox, arguing that the conspiracy theories "decimated" its business.
The complaint was first filed with the New York State Supreme Court in February of 2021. Smartmatic claims that Fox News knowingly made "over 100 false statements and implications" that contributed to former President Donald Trump's election narrative and compromised the company's integrity in the public eye.
Smartmatic's suit lists Trump allies Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, as well as Fox News anchors Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, and Jeanine Pirro as defendants. Powell in 2020 claimed that Smartmatic assisted in rigging an election in Venezuela — in actuality, as Insider reported, the company was a key whistleblower in unveiling election fraud under President Nicolas Maduro in 2017.
Following the announcement of Fox's settlement with Dominion on Tuesday, Smartmatic lawyer Erik J. Connolly released a statement affirming that the company "remains committed" to seeing Fox be held accountable.
"Dominion's litigation exposed some of the misconduct and damage caused by Fox's disinformation campaign. Smartmatic will expose the rest," Connolly said. "Smartmatic remains committed to clearing its name, recouping the significant damage done to the company, and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy."
Smartmatic remains committed to clearing its name, recouping the significant damage done to the company, and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy.” 2/2
— Ben Smith (@semaforben) April 18, 2023
Sara Fischer, a senior media reporter at Axios, shared a "remarkable statement" Fox sent her in response.
"'There is nothing more newsworthy than covering the president of the United States and his lawyers making allegations of voter fraud," the statement said. "Freedom of the press is foundational to our democracy and must be protected, in addition to the damages claims being outrageous, unsupported, and not rooted in sound financial analysis.'"
1/2 Remarkable statement from Fox to me just now in response to Smartmatic’s lawyers saying they are ready to pick up where Dominion left off.
— Sara Fischer (@sarafischer) April 19, 2023
"There is nothing more newsworthy than covering the president of the United States and his lawyers making allegations of voter fraud.” https://t.co/0j7tDdsATb
