Conservative US news outlets face charges for spreading false information

WASHINGTON – Conservative news outlet Newsmax is facing consequences for spreading false information about the 2020 presidential election.

According to reports, editors and other network employees have been served with subpoenas.

They were ordered to turn over their personal cell phones, emails, and iCloud accounts to legal representatives working on behalf of Smartmatic, an election technology company.

The action has come as part of Smartmatic’s defamation lawsuits against both Newsmax and OANN, a far-right, Trump-friendly cable channel.

Those lawsuits were filed in response to false claims made by the networks alleging that Smartmatic rigged the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden.

If Smartmatic is successful in its lawsuit, Newsmax and OANN could be required to pay significant damages, which could amount to millions of dollars.

According to experts, this development represents the latest setback for Newsmax in its legal challenges.

Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Newsmax against Dominion Voting Systems, another voting technology company.

The news network had falsely accused the company of election interference.

The lawsuits against Newsmax and OANN are part of a broader effort to hold accountable those responsible for spreading allegations of election fraud.

In recent months, several other media outlets, including Fox News, have faced defamation lawsuits over their coverage of the 2020 election.

The outcomes of these lawsuits will significantly impact the future landscape of election-related misinformation in the United States.

Fox News had recently agreed to a $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems shortly before it went to trial.