News Entities Face Nearly $895 Million in Payouts Over 2020 Election Defamation Lawsuits

News entities have incurred substantial financial penalties, totaling nearly $895 million, stemming from defamation lawsuits related to false claims about the 2020 U.S. presidential election. This figure underscores the legal and financial consequences for broadcasting unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud. Representative Jamie Raskin recently highlighted these payouts, stating in a tweet, > "This is nearly $900 million that news entities have had to pay out for publishing lies about the 2020 presidential election."

The largest of these settlements involved Fox News, which agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million in April 2023. Dominion had sued the network for $1.6 billion, alleging that Fox News knowingly amplified false conspiracy theories claiming its voting machines were rigged to alter election results. The settlement was reached just as the trial was set to begin, avoiding public testimony from prominent network figures and executives.

Adding to this total, Newsmax, another conservative media outlet, reached two significant settlements. In August 2025, Newsmax agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $67 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit over similar false claims regarding the 2020 election. Previously, in September 2024, Newsmax settled a separate defamation case with Smartmatic USA, another voting technology company, for $40 million.

These payouts reflect the judiciary's stance against the dissemination of false information about election integrity. While these major cases have concluded with substantial financial repercussions, Smartmatic is still pursuing a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News in New York state court. These ongoing legal battles continue to draw attention to the responsibilities of media organizations in reporting on sensitive political matters.

Rep. Raskin's tweet further emphasized the broader context of these legal outcomes, noting that despite these significant financial penalties, "Donald Trump, who lost by more than seven million votes, keeps repeating the Big Lie and makes it compulsory dogma for his employees." The combined settlements serve as a stark reminder of the financial and reputational risks associated with promoting unsubstantiated claims about electoral processes.