After Dominion Voting Systems filed and settled a defamation lawsuit against Fox News regarding the 2020 election, Newsmax could be facing a similar situation.
Smartmatic, a voting technology company, has issued subpoenas to multiple current and former employees of the right-wing cable network. It has requested access to their personal and work-related communications.
Newsmax insiders, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, revealed to Rolling Stone that they were instructed three weeks ago to provide “mirror images of their personal cell phone, personal email, and iCloud” in response to Smartmatic’s lawsuit against the network.
Attorney J. Erik Connolly, who represents Smartmatic, informed Rolling Stone that the company is gathering evidence from those who played a role in spreading false information about Smartmatic. The company has already obtained some evidence and plans to seek more from these individuals. The complaint does not mention the exact number of damages suffered by Smartmatic.
Smartmatic has filed a lawsuit against Newsmax, accusing the news outlet of knowingly spreading false information about their company following the 2020 presidential election. The lawsuit alleges that Newsmax made false claims through their news broadcasts, online reports, and social media, suggesting that Smartmatic was involved in a criminal conspiracy to manipulate and steal the election.
Despite Rolling Stone’s request for comment, Newsmax has not responded. While initially countering the lawsuit with a claim of intimidation, Newsmax is now being requested to provide relevant evidence following a February 2023 ruling allowing Smartmatic’s case to proceed.
According to Rolling Stone, the employees of Newsmax subpoenaed for their text messages and emails, are not happy with the situation. They say that Newsmax has threatened to fire them if they do not comply with the subpoenas.
At first, Newsmax had said compliance was unnecessary, but now the employees are being warned of the possibility of losing their jobs. The company is concerned that not complying with the subpoenas could negatively affect its ability to defend itself in court.
Many employees of the network share the sentiment that it is unfair for their employer to access their personal privacy without their involvement in the decision-making process, considering it a significant breach of privacy.
However, a network insider revealed that Smartmatic has issued subpoenas for the communications of several Newsmax employees. The insider dismissed the employees’ frustrations. They emphasized that complying with a court order is necessary. Newsmax cannot refuse it.
