Conservative cable channel Newsmax paid $40 million to settle a 2020 election defamation lawsuit brought by voting systems software provider Smartmatic out of court, a new filing shows. The

To date, the media company has paid out $20 million of the settlement agreement – which also includes significant stock options.

Cable outlet Newsmax Media has paid $40 million to settle allegations it defamed Smartmatic by reporting false claims that the voting machine company helped rig the 2020 U.S. election for Joe Biden over Donald Trump,