Smartmatic Fact check

Smartmatic is taking steps to defend its reputation from attacks by actors trying to further their agendas and profits. These attacks don’t just hurt Smartmatic. They damage the credibility and integrity of all elections, and disparage the hard work of election officials, administrators and poll workers around the world.

Smartmatic Defeats Fox News Appeal of Its Defamation Lawsuit | February 14, 2023
A five-judge panel unanimously found that Smartmatic adequately alleged that Fox News, Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro, and Rudy Giuliani either knew that the voting machine conspiracy theories were false — or had serious doubts about their veracity — when they aired. All claims originally brought by Smartmatic against all these defendants are now proceeding.

Smartmatic’s counsel, Erik Connolly, stated, “As detailed in our complaint, Fox News, its news anchors and guests knowingly and falsely published lies that Smartmatic’s election technology and software was widely used in the 2020 election to switch votes—when they knew that Smartmatic’s technology was used only in Los Angeles County and there was no support for making their outrageous claims. Smartmatic has been severely injured and has sued to recover for this harm. We look forward to holding Fox News and the other defendants accountable in court. Smartmatic feels gratified by the decision of the New York appellate court, which has rejected all calls for dismissal by Fox News and its cohorts.”
Read the press release here

News Articles:

AP: Court nixes Fox News’ bid to end voting tech firm’s suit | February 14, 2023
Deadline: Appeals Court Declines To Dismiss Smartmatic Lawsuit Against Fox News | February 14, 2023
Law and Crime: Fox News loses appeal of Smartmatic lawsuit on 2020 electio | February 15, 2023

Lindell’s motion to dismiss denied | September 19, 2022
Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright of the US District Court of Minnesota allowed Smartmatic’s lawsuit against Mike Lindell and My Pillow, Inc., to go forward by denying their motions to dismiss. The case will now proceed to the discovery phase. Smartmatic filed the suit for defamation and unfair practices claims on January 18, 2022.

After the 2020 US Presidential election, Lindell embarked on a smear campaign against Smartmatic to garner publicity and, in turn, increase corporate profits. Judge Wright determined that Smartmatic has alleged enough facts to support a claim of reputational harm from Lindell’s statements. She found further that Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, intentionally promoted MyPillow while allegedly defaming Smartmatic. In particular, Lindell advertised his business through promotional discount codes aired during his live events, which were broadcast and live streamed.

“We are pleased with this ruling and look forward to holding Mr. Lindell and his company responsible for the damage they have done to Smartmatic and democracy. Mr. Lindell continues to spread disinformation and, by doing so, jeopardizes secure and accurate voting in the United States and elsewhere. It must come to an end,” said Smartmatic’s attorney J. Erik Connolly, Managing Chair of the Litigation Practice Group, at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP.

News Articles:

Politico: Judge refuses Lindell motion to dismiss suit brought by voting machine company | September 19, 2022
Bloomberg: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Ordered to Face Voting-Fraud Defamation Suit | September 19, 2022

Fox News motion to dismiss rejected l July 7, 2022
The New York State Supreme Court allowed the majority Smartmatic’s defamation lawsuits to proceed to the discovery stage.

Justice David Cohen of New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan rejected bids by Fox Corp. (FOXA.O), anchor Maria Bartiromo, and former anchor Lou Dobbs to dismiss Smartmatic's claims against them. Cohen also said Smartmatic can pursue some claims against lawyer Rudy Giuliani. The court also denied Fox’s motion to stay discovery.

Without ruling on the merits, Cohen found a "substantial basis" for the claim that Fox News "turned a blind eye to a litany of outrageous claims about [Smartmatic], unprecedented in the history of American elections, so inherently improbable that it evinced a reckless disregard for the truth."

Following the decision, Smartmatic's lawyer J. Erik Connolly said Fox News caused "catastrophic damage" to his client's business and reputation. "This lawsuit will help to undo that damage," he said.

News Articles:

Daily Beast:Judge Lets $2.7B Smartmatic Suit Against Fox News Proceed, Drops Claims Against Jeanine Pirro & Sidney Powell| March 8, 2022
Reuters: Smartmatic can pursue election-rigging claims against Fox News, Giuliani | March 8, 2022

OAN must face Smartmatic defamation suit l June 21, 2022
A federal judge green lighted Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit against One America News (OAN), which Smartmatic brought against the network for airing conspiracy theories about the company's role in the 2020 US presidential election.

“Smartmatic looks forward to starting discovery and pursuing it claims against OAN,” stated Smartmatic’s attorney J. Erik Connolly of law firm Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP.

News articles:

Business Insider: OAN can't dodge Smartmatic's DC lawsuit over election conspiracy theories just because its headquarters is in California, judge rules | June 21, 2022

Court finds Lindell’s lawsuits against Smartmatic without merit | May 19, 2022
Federal Judge Carl Nichols, of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, dismissed a countersuit filed by MyPillow Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mike Lindell against Smartmatic. Lindell’s counter filing followed Smartmatic’s defamation suit against him and his company, which was filed in 2021.

The judge wrote that most of Lindell’s assertions were, “wholly conclusory allegations unsupported by any alleged facts” and did not contain the requisite proof needed for a successful lawsuit.

“Smartmatic filed a series of defamation lawsuits against Mr. Lindell and others because they lied about the 2020 U.S. election. Those lawsuits have merit, and we look forward to litigating those cases. In contrast, as the Court found, Mr. Lindell’s lawsuits against Smartmatic was without merit and a waste of everyone’s time. We are grateful the Court granted our motion to dismiss and motion for sanctions,” stated Smartmatic’s attorney J. Erik Connolly of law firm Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP.

News articles:

TPM: Judge Sanctions Mike Lindell For ‘Frivolous’ Claims Against | May 19, 2022
Bloomberg Law: MyPillow’s Lindell Sanctioned Over ‘Frivolous’ Election Suit (2) | May 20, 2022
The Hill: Judge sanctions MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell for ‘frivolous’ election lawsuit | May 20, 2022

NY Supreme Court Judge David Cohen rejects Fox’s Motions to Dismiss Smartmatic defamation lawsuit | March 8, 2022
Rejecting Motions to Dismiss filed by Fox Corporation and its co-defendants Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo and Rudy Giuliani, the court cleared the way for Smartmatic’s defamation and disparagement lawsuit to go to the discovery phase.
Read the press release here.

News articles:

Reuters: Smartmatic can pursue election-rigging claims against Fox News, Giuliani | March 8, 2022
The Hill: Portions of Smartmatic lawsuit against Fox News can proceed, judge rules | March 9, 2022
Yahoo! News: New York judge denies Fox News' motion to dismiss Smartmatic defamation lawsuit against network over 2020 election falsehoods | March 9, 2022

Smartmatic files defamation and unfair trade practices claims against Michael J. Lindell and My Pillow, Inc. | January 18, 2022
Smartmatic has filed defamation and unfair practices claims against Michael J. Lindell and his company, My Pillow, Inc. (“MyPillow”), for the persistent, deliberate and damaging lies told about Smartmatic and its involvement in the 2020 US Presidential election. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Minnesota.
Read the press release here

Read the full claim against Michael J. Lindell and My Pillow, Inc.

FAQs

News articles:

Newsweek: Smartmatic Sues Mike Lindell, Accusing Him of Spreading Election Lies to Sell More Pillows | January 18, 2022
Yahoo News: Smartmatic sues Mike Lindell for defamation | January 18, 2022
Business Insider: Voting company Smartmatic filed a defamation lawsuit against MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell | January 18, 2022

Smartmatic files defamation claims against Newsmax and OANN | November 3, 2021
Coming on the one-year anniversary of the 2020 US presidential election, Smartmatic is charging that the defendants knowingly and deliberately disseminated a continuous stream of falsehoods that harmed Smartmatic and negatively impacted the company’s business.

Read the press release here

Read the full claim against OANN here

Read the full claim against Newsmax Media here

FAQs

News articles:

CNN: Smartmatic is now suing Newsmax and OAN for 'disinformation campaign' | November 3,2021
Bloomblerg: Smartmatic Sues Newsmax, OAN Over Election-Fraud Claims | November 3, 2021
Reuters: Newsmax, One America News sued by voting technology firm Smartmatic | November 3, 2021
Axios:Smartmatic sues Newsmax and OANN for defamation | November 4, 2021

Smartmatic defends its case before the New York State Court | August 17, 2021
After the oral argument held virtually with New York State Judge David Cohen, Smartmatic remains confident in the factual and legal underpinnings of its claims against Fox News and co-defendants.

News articles:

CNBC: Judge grills lawyers for Fox News, Powell, Giuliani about election fraud claims in $2.7 billion Smartmatic defamation suit | August 17, 2021
Bloomberg: Fox News Asks N.Y. Judge to Toss $2.7 Billion Election Suit | August 17, 2021
Reuters: Judge questions Fox News bid to shake $2.7 billion Smartmatic election suit
| August 17, 2021

Smartmatic files opposition brief against motions to dismiss lawsuit | April 12, 2021
Smartmatic’s filing sets forth, in detail, the substantial basis that it has for its claims and asks the court to deny the motions. Smartmatic asserts that it has a straightforward case that is in line with black letter law. The totality of Smartmatic’s allegations show the Fox defendants knew their statements were false or demonstrated reckless disregard for the truth.

Read the full brief here

News articles

The New York Times: Smartmatic Says Disinformation on Fox News About the Election Was ‘No Accident.’ | April 12, 2021

Vanity Fair: Smartmatic Calls Bulls--T On Fox’s First Amendment Argument | April 13, 2021

Smartmatic files $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox Corporation | February 4, 2021
“Fox News engaged in a conspiracy to spread disinformation about Smartmatic. They lied, and they did so knowingly and intentionally. Smartmatic seeks to hold them accountable for those lies,” said Smartmatic’s attorney J. Erik Connolly, Vice Chair of the Litigation Practice Group, at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP.

Read the press release here

Read the full complaint here

News articles

Insider: Election-Technology Company Smartmatic Files $2.7 Billion Lawsuit Against Fox News Over Election Conspiracy Theories | February 4, 2021
CNBC: Dominion and Smartmatic Have Serious Shot at Victory in Election Disinformation Suits, Experts Say | February 24, 2021

Smartmatic demands justice with retraction demand letters | December 14, 2020
Smartmatic issued legal notices and retraction demand letters to Fox News, Newsmax and OANN for publishing false and defamatory statements. The demand letters identify dozens of factually inaccurate statements made by each of the organizations as part of a “disinformation campaign” to injure Smartmatic and discredit the 2020 U.S. election.

Read the press release here

News articles

AP: Company Targeted by Vote Fraud Claims Strikes Back at Trump | December 14, 2020
The New York Times: The ‘Red Slime’ Lawsuit That Could Sink Right-Wing Media | December 20, 2020

Uno de los mayores desafíos en la era de la información es la desinformación. Las redes sociales y otros medios en línea pueden ser a la vez invaluables y engañosos, particularmente cuando se trata de elecciones. Por favor, verifique todo lo que lea en línea con fuentes objetivas y creíbles antes de creerlo como cierto o compartirlo.

Puede encontrar una lista de organizaciones independientes de verificación de datos publicada por la Universidad de California aquí y por la Universidad Americana aquí. (Smartmatic no tiene ninguna relación con ninguna de estas universidades ni con sus listas. Solo las ofrecemos como recursos para ayudar en la verificación de los hechos).

La credibilidad de Smartmatic es nuestro activo más importante

Sabemos que para ser socios confiables y creíbles de los gobiernos y los funcionarios electorales, debemos ser transparentes y directos. Aquí están los datos sobre nuestra empresa e historia. Sin adornos.

El software de Smartmatic fue desarrollado por nuestros ingenieros para hacer tres cosas: procesar los votos con precisión, mantenerlos seguros y facilitar las auditorías. Eso es todo. No hay otra agenda. Nuestra tecnología ha sido probada en elecciones auditadas durante casi 20 años.
La tecnología y servicios electorales de Smartmatic han sido validados por organizaciones independientes, incluida la Comisión de Asistencia Electoral de Estados Unidos, el estado de California, PriceWaterhouseCoopers y SLI Global. También por instituciones de renombre mundial como el Centro Carter, las Naciones Unidas, la Organización de Estados Americanos y la Unión Europea.
Smartmatic no tiene vínculos con gobiernos ni partidos políticos. Los gobiernos son clientes con los que hacemos negocios, como cualquier otra entidad comercial. No tenemos alianzas ni relaciones con ningún político, partido político, PAC o gobierno. Los fundadores y empleados de Smartmatic se adhieren a un estricto código de ética que, entre otras cosas, les prohíbe realizar donaciones políticas.
Smartmatic no tiene ningún vínculo con ningún líder nacional, vivo o muerto, en los Estados Unidos, o en cualquier otro país.
Dos de los fundadores, Antonio Mugica y Roger Piñate, dirigen la empresa como CEO y Presidente, respectivamente. La mayoría de las acciones de la empresa pertenecen a las familias Mugica y Piñate. Las acciones restantes (menos del 20%) están en manos de empleados e inversores.
George Soros no tiene participación en Smartmatic, ni es un inversor. No está en la Junta Directiva ni es empleado de Smartmatic. Nunca lo ha sido. Esto ha sido probado una y otra vez.
Los fundadores de Smartmatic nacieron en Venezuela. Sin embargo, la empresa se fundó en Boca Raton, Florida en 2000 y todavía mantiene sus oficinas de Estados Unidos en esa ciudad. Tesla, Procter & Gamble, Kohl's, TJ Maxx, Houzz.com, Google y muchas otras empresas estadounidenses fueron fundadas por personas nacidas fuera de EE. UU. Una empresa estadounidense sigue siendo una empresa estadounidense, independientemente de dónde hayan nacido sus fundadores o accionistas.
Smartmatic solo ha sido propietario de una empresa electoral en los EE. UU., Sequoia Voting Systems. Smartmatic vendió la empresa en 2007 al equipo de gestión de Sequoia. Más de tres años después, Dominion Voting Systems compró Sequoia. Smartmatic no participó en la adquisición de Sequoia por Dominion.
Smartmatic no tiene operaciones en Venezuela. Hicimos proyectos electorales en Venezuela de 2004 a 2017, y el equipo, el software y los empleados de Smartmatic se desempeñaron exitosamente en todo momento. En 2017, nuestra tecnología ayudó a demostrar que el gobierno estaba divulgando números de participación falsos, por lo que hicimos la denuncia y desde ese momento dejamos de hacer negocios en ese país.
Smartmatic nunca ha vendido máquinas de votación en Myanmar, Bolivia, Nicaragua o España.