Reid Hoffman, the Democratic megadonor and co-founder of LinkedIn, is now financially supporting Smartmatic’s defamation lawsuits against Fox News and Newsmax. Hoffman, who has a history of funding legal campaigns against conservative figures, has invested in Smartmatic to bolster its litigation efforts.
Smartmatic, an electronic voting company, has been embroiled in legal battles following the 2020 presidential election. The company claims it was targeted by a defamatory campaign aiming to overturn Donald Trump’s defeat. Last year, Smartmatic stated that no third-party entities were underwriting its lawsuits, but Hoffman’s recent investment appears to change that narrative.
In a statement, Hoffman said, “Smartmatic built a global business by using technology to better engage citizens, regardless of party or ideology, by making voting simple and trustworthy. After Donald Trump lost in 2020, however, Smartmatic became a target of the defamatory campaign to overturn his defeat.” He further emphasized that his investment in Smartmatic was both a financial opportunity and a means to support finding the truth in court.
Hoffman’s involvement is not surprising given his history of backing anti-Trump initiatives. He has funded various legal and media campaigns against conservative organizations and figures, including E. Jean Carroll’s defamation lawsuits against Trump and the MeidasTouch Network, a far-left media organization. Hoffman also funded Fusion GPS, the research firm behind the controversial Steele dossier.
Controversially, Hoffman’s past includes visits to Jeffrey Epstein’s properties long after Epstein’s conviction for procuring an underage girl for prostitution. Hoffman admitted to The Wall Street Journal that his association with Epstein likely delayed justice for the financier’s survivors, claiming his last interaction with Epstein was in 2015.
Smartmatic’s lawsuit against Fox News is yet to go to trial, but the case has gained significant attention following a $787.5 million settlement between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems, a similar voting technology company. Hoffman’s backing adds a new dimension to the ongoing legal battles surrounding the 2020 election and highlights his continued influence in political and legal arenas.
