A shocking revelation has emerged, highlighting the complex web of politics, technology, and alleged corruption. Smartmatic, a voting technology firm, finds itself at the center of a bribery scandal in the Philippines, with federal prosecutors charging the company and its executives with serious crimes.
The story unfolds with a series of alleged bribes, totaling over $1 million, paid by Smartmatic executives to secure a lucrative contract with the Philippines government for the 2016 presidential election. These payments, made between 2015 and 2018, are said to have been a strategic move to ensure timely payment for their services.
But here's where it gets controversial: while three former Smartmatic executives, including co-founder Roger Pinate, were initially charged in 2024, the company itself was not named as a defendant until now. Pinate, who is no longer with the company but retains his shareholder status, has pleaded not guilty.
And this is the part most people miss: the criminal case against Smartmatic comes at a time when the company is pursuing a massive $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News, accusing them of defamation for spreading false claims about Smartmatic's role in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Smartmatic believes these false allegations, aired by Fox News, have significantly damaged their business, leading to a dramatic decline.
In a bold statement, Smartmatic denies all allegations and claims that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami has been influenced by powerful, unnamed interests. They stand by their principles and their people, refusing to be intimidated by those in positions of power.
Prosecutors, however, have a different story to tell. They argue that revenue from a $300 million contract with Los Angeles County was diverted to a 'slush fund' controlled by Pinate, using overseas shell companies and fake invoices. Furthermore, they accuse Pinate of secretly bribing Venezuela's election chief with a luxurious home in Caracas, an act they say was an attempt to repair relations after Smartmatic's exit from the country in 2017.
A hearing on this evidence is scheduled for next month, but these accusations are notably absent from the superseding indictment signed by the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason Reding Quinones, appointed by Trump.
Smartmatic's journey began over two decades ago when a group of Venezuelans, taking advantage of the late Hugo Chavez's enthusiasm for electronic voting, found success in running elections. The company expanded globally, providing voting technology for 25 countries.
However, Smartmatic claims their business took a nosedive after Fox News gave a platform to Trump's lawyers, who painted the company as part of a conspiracy to rig the 2020 election. Fox News maintains they were reporting on newsworthy events, and even aired a piece refuting the allegations, but the damage was done.
The question remains: is Smartmatic a victim of political influence and defamation, or are these allegations a sign of deeper, systemic issues within the company? What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
