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Court Allows Fox News to Access Smartmatic Criminal Probe Evidence

Topic: generalRegion: north americaUpdated: i2 outletsSources: 2⚠ Bias gap — sources divergeSpectrum: Mixed⏱ 3 min read📡 Wire pickup
📰 Scored from 2 outletsacross 1 Center 1 RightHow we score bias →
Story Summary
SITUATION
Fox News has secured a significant legal advantage in its ongoing defamation lawsuit with Smartmatic, as the New York Supreme Court's Appellate Division has granted the network additional discovery rights. This decision allows Fox News to incorporate evidence from federal criminal proceedings against Smartmatic and its executives into the case.
Coveragetap to expand ▾
Spectrum: Mixed🌍US: 1 · Other: 1
Political Spectrum
Position is inferred from coverage mix.
i2 outlets · Center
Left
Center
Right
Left: 0
Center: 1
Right: 1
Geography Coverage
Distribution of where coverage is coming from.
i2 unique outlets · Dominant: US/Canada
KEY FACTS
  • Smartmatic filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News, claiming the network falsely accused it of rigging the 2020 U.S. presidential election (per washingtonexaminer.com).
  • Fox News argues that the criminal charges against Smartmatic are relevant to the defamation case, potentially affecting the credibility of Smartmatic's claims (per washingtonexaminer.com).
  • The legal battle between Fox News and Smartmatic is part of a broader context of lawsuits involving voting technology companies following the 2020 election (per washingtonexaminer.com).
HISTORICAL CONTEXT

This development falls within the broader context of General activity in North America. Current reporting indicates: In October 2025, the Justice Department announced Smartmatic was charged with conspiring to bribe foreign officials and money laundering to allegedly win business in the Philippines.

The court is allowing relevant allegations against Smartmatic in Venezuela and Los Angeles to be taken into account for discovery purposes in the case. This context is based on the currently available source text and may be refined as fuller reporting becomes available.

Brief

The court's order specifically permits the inclusion of allegations related to Smartmatic's activities in Venezuela and Los Angeles, which could influence the outcome of the defamation suit. The legal dispute stems from Smartmatic's claims that Fox News falsely accused the company of manipulating the 2020 U.S. presidential election results.

In response, Fox News has argued that the recent criminal charges against Smartmatic, announced by the Justice Department in October 2025, are pertinent to the defamation case. These charges involve allegations of bribery and money laundering to secure business in the Philippines, potentially undermining Smartmatic's credibility.

The broader context of this legal battle includes a series of lawsuits filed by voting technology companies against media outlets and public figures following the contentious 2020 election. These companies, including Smartmatic, have sought to defend their reputations against claims of election interference.

Fox News's legal team views the court's decision as a crucial step in bolstering its defense, arguing that the criminal proceedings provide relevant context to Smartmatic's defamation claims. The network aims to demonstrate that Smartmatic's legal troubles extend beyond the defamation case, potentially affecting the company's standing and the validity of its accusations.

Smartmatic, on the other hand, maintains that the defamation lawsuit is a separate matter and that the criminal charges should not influence the court's judgment. The company asserts that its legal actions are focused on holding Fox News accountable for spreading false information that damaged its reputation and business.

As the case progresses, both parties are preparing for a potentially lengthy legal process, with significant implications for the media landscape and the accountability of news organizations in reporting election-related content. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how defamation claims involving complex international business dealings are handled in the future.

Why it matters
  • Fox News's ability to access evidence from Smartmatic's criminal proceedings could weaken Smartmatic's defamation claims, impacting the company's reputation and legal standing.
  • The decision highlights the ongoing legal challenges faced by voting technology companies in the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, affecting their business operations and public perception.
  • The case underscores the broader issue of media accountability in reporting election-related content, with potential consequences for journalistic practices and standards.
What to watch next
  • Whether Fox News successfully uses the criminal proceedings evidence to challenge Smartmatic's defamation claims.
  • The progression of Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit against Fox News and any potential settlements or rulings.
  • Any further legal actions or charges against Smartmatic that could influence the ongoing case.
Where sources differ
3 dimensions
Bias gap0.50 / 2.0

Left- and right-leaning outlets are covering this story differently — in which facts to emphasize, which context to include, and how to frame causes and consequences.

Center (1)
tampafp.com
Right-leaning (1)
washington_examiner+0.70
Fox News granted additional discovery in Smartmatic voting machine case Fox News granted additional discovery in Smartmatic voting machine case Fox News granted additional discover…

3 specific areas where coverage diverges — see below.

Framing differences
?
  • The washingtonexaminer.com emphasizes the relevance of Smartmatic's criminal charges to the defamation case, while news.google.com focuses on the legal win for Fox News.
Disputed or unclear
?
  • The impact of the criminal charges on the defamation case's outcome remains speculative.
Omitted context
?
  • No source mentions the broader implications for media accountability and journalistic standards in election reporting.
Sources
2 of 2 linked articles