Voting Tech Company Faces Charges of Corruption
MIAMI – Federal prosecutors have accused Smartmatic, a company that makes voting technology, of crimes including money laundering. The charges relate to over $1 million in what prosecutors say were bribes paid to officials in the Philippines.
The alleged payments occurred between 2015 and 2018. Prosecutors say they were made to get a contract for the 2016 Philippines presidential election and to ensure timely payment for Smartmatic’s work.
Previously, three former Smartmatic executives were charged in 2024. Now, the company itself is also named as a defendant in an updated indictment filed in Florida. One of those executives, Roger Pinate, has pleaded not guilty.
This criminal case comes as Smartmatic is also pursuing a large lawsuit against Fox News. They claim the news organization made false statements accusing the company of helping rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Smartmatic denies all allegations and claims the charges are politically motivated. They suggest unnamed powerful figures have influenced the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami.
Prosecutors have also suggested that money from a contract with Los Angeles County may have been used as a “slush fund” controlled by Pinate. They also accuse Pinate of bribing a Venezuelan election official with a luxury home. This accusation relates to Smartmatic’s exit from Venezuela in 2017 after accusing President Maduro’s government of manipulating election results.
Smartmatic was started by Venezuelans and found early success while Hugo Chavez was in power. The company expanded to provide voting technology in many countries.
Smartmatic has stated that its business suffered after Fox News aired accusations of the company’s involvement in the 2020 election. Fox News defends its reporting but did air a piece refuting the allegations after complaints from Smartmatic.
