A voting technology company, Smartmatic, has reached a settlement in a defamation lawsuit with One America News Network (OANN). This settlement marks a significant development in the legal battle faced by voting equipment companies that were falsely accused of involvement in election fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
Smartmatic, based in Florida, announced the resolution of the litigation with OANN through a confidential settlement. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in the District of Columbia. OANN, in response, stated that it does not typically comment on legal matters and declined to provide further details.
Despite being an unlikely target for conspiracy theorists, Smartmatic was dragged into baseless claims alleging vote manipulation to favor President Donald Trump's opponent. The company's voting technology was only used in Los Angeles County, a non-battleground area where Trump did not challenge the election results.
Smartmatic's association with providing voting services in Venezuela became a focal point for unfounded allegations of foreign interference in the U.S. election. The company is also pursuing legal action against Fox News and Newsmax for similar accusations. Fox News recently settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787 million over false claims of election rigging.
The conspiracy theories surrounding voting equipment and software are part of a broader misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the legitimate outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which was won by Joe Biden. Multiple reviews, audits, and recounts in key swing states have confirmed Biden's victory, debunking claims of widespread fraud.
Former President Trump, who continues to contest the election results, is facing legal challenges at both federal and state levels for his efforts to overturn the outcome. The settlement between Smartmatic and OANN underscores the ongoing repercussions of spreading false information and disinformation in the political landscape.
