Voting machine manufacturing company Smartmatic claims C-list conservative propaganda network Newsmax destroyed evidence sought in its defamation lawsuit against the network that would demonstrate Newsmax executives and hosts knew the misinformation they were broadcasting in the wake of the 2020 election was false, NBC News reports.
In the filing, Smartmatic says Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy intentionally deleted texts relating to Trump lawyer Sidney Powell. The plaintiff says they received copies of texts from other witnesses who saved the texts Ruddy deleted, leading Smartmatic to believe additional communications were deleted.
Smartmatic lawyers alleged Newsmax engaged in a “cover-up,” saying the network deleted emails, texts and other communications after the network had been notified of the lawsuit. The case is being heard in US District Court for Delaware, the same jurisdiction that heard the Dominion Voting System case against Fox that resulted in a $787.5 million settlement.