A Delaware judge has determined that Newsmax Media defamed Dominion Voting Systems through its reporting. The news outlet was accused of spreading false information that accused the voting machine company of rigging the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Dominion is seeking $1.6 billion in damages. A Delaware jury will determine the amount in a trial scheduled to begin on April 28 in Wilmington. The Denver-based company sued Newsmax in 2021 for airing false claims that Dominion machines had stolen the election from President Donald Trump, who was defeated by President Joe Biden.

Judge Davis stated that Newsmax's assertions in its broadcasts were false and amounted to defamation. These assertions included claims that Dominion aided in election fraud, manipulated votes using an algorithm, was linked to Venezuela, paid kickbacks to government officials, and was connected to voting irregularities in Dallas. The judge also stated that jurors must determine if Dominion is entitled to punitive damages.

Newsmax responded by stating that it covered both sides of the 2020 election dispute fairly and that it did not defame Dominion. The company views the case as a threat to free speech and a free press and will defend itself vigorously at trial.

Newsmax shares experienced a decline in trading following the ruling. The company had recently debuted on the New York Stock Exchange after an initial public offering.

Last year, Newsmax agreed to pay $40 million to settle defamation allegations made by Smartmatic, another voting machine company. Dominion previously settled a similar defamation lawsuit with Fox News.