
Smartmatic settles defamation suit against OAN over 2020 election claims
By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor)
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn moreBias Distribution
Left
Right
Untracked Bias
Smartmatic settled its defamation lawsuit against One America News Network (OAN) on Tuesday, April 16, over the outlet’s coverage of the 2020 election, which included claims of election theft and interference. In 2021, Smartmatic accused the broadcaster of falsely reporting its voting machines had manipulated election outcomes in favor of President Joe Biden.
The details of the settlement have not been disclosed.
The lawsuit stated OAN repeatedly aired unfounded allegations that the election was stolen, even hosting guests who supported these claims without evidence.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
One America News has previously denied that its broadcasts were defamatory, arguing that the events covered were newsworthy.
This settlement follows a $787.5 million payment by Fox News to settle similar claims from Dominion Voting Systems, marking the largest media defamation settlement in history. One America News is also facing a pending lawsuit from Dominion.
OAN and Smartmatic settle election defamation case https://t.co/tu52ZPSc7h
— Wynn Westmoreland CNN (@WynnWs) April 16, 2024
Meanwhile, Smartmatic is continuing its legal battles against Fox News for $2 billion and Newsmax for an undisclosed sum, accusing them of spreading false claims about its technology during the 2020 elections.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
VOTING-MACHINE COMPANY SMARTMATIC SETTLED ITS DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST ONE AMERICA NEWS NETWORK TUESDAY OVER THE OUTLET’S 2020 ELECTION COVERAGE.THAT INCLUDED CLAIMS OF ELECTION THEFT AND INTERFERENCE.
IN 2021, SMARTMATIC ACCUSED THE BROADCASTER OF FALSELY REPORTING ITS VOTING MACHINES HAD MANIPULATED ELECTION OUTCOMES IN FAVOR OF PRESIDENT BIDEN. THE DETAILS OF THE SETTLEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN DISCLOSED.
THE LAWSUIT SAID O-A-N REPEATEDLY AIRED UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, EVEN HOSTING GUESTS WHO SUPPORTED THESE CLAIMS WITHOUT EVIDENCE.
[Tom Fitton]
“You know the smartmatic system which is separate from Dominion is based as far as I can tell I mean that company was set up by buddies of Hugo Chavez. There’s no doubt about it and they should be nowhere near our elections.”
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
ONE AMERICA NEWS HAS PREVIOUSLY DENIED THAT ITS BROADCASTS WERE DEFAMATORY, ARGUING THAT THE EVENTS COVERED WERE NEWSWORTHY.
THIS SETTLEMENT COMES AFTER FOX NEWS AGREED TO PAY $787.5 MILLION TO SETTLE SIMILAR CLAIMS FROM DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS — THE LARGEST MEDIA DEFAMATION SETTLEMENT IN HISTORY.
ONE AMERICA NEWS IS ALSO FACING A PENDING LAWSUIT FROM DOMINION.
MEANWHILE, SMARTMATIC IS CONTINUING ITS LEGAL BATTLES AGAINST FOX NEWS FOR $2 BILLION AND NEWSMAX FOR AN UNDISCLOSED SUM, ACCUSING THEM OF SPREADING FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT ITS TECHNOLOGY DURING THE 2020 ELECTIONS.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn moreBias Distribution
Left
Right
Untracked Bias
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Getty Images
White House denies Trump is moving to take over USPS despite report
Watch 2:464 hrs ago -
U.S. Marshals Service
US Marshals Service deputizes Musk’s private security detail: Reports
Watch 0:569 hrs ago -
Getty Images
Senate passes budget resolution after overnight 'vote-a-rama'
Watch 9:1610 hrs ago -
Getty Images
Mexican president warns US not to invade her country’s sovereignty
Watch 1:3317 hrs ago