Smartmatic, Executives Indicted In Alleged Foreign Bribery Scheme

Federal prosecutors have indicted Smartmatic and several former executives in a case alleging foreign bribery and money laundering tied to election contracts.

The indictment, filed in the Southern District of Florida, accuses Smartmatic’s parent company, SGO Corp., of paying roughly $1 million in bribes between 2015 and 2018 to a former election official in the Philippines. The goal: to win or retain contracts for voting machines and related election services.

Bribery Scheme Allegedly Funded Through Slush Accounts

According to the Justice Department, the scheme relied on over-invoicing, shell companies, and coded financial documents to create and maintain slush funds used to pay off officials.

Prosecutors also intend to present evidence that funds from a major voting equipment contract with Los Angeles County were diverted into these same slush funds to support the bribery operation.

Three Executives Named

The executives indicted are Roger Alejandro Pinate Martinez, Jorge Miguel Vasquez, and Elie Moreno. Some have pleaded not guilty and are seeking to have the charges dismissed.

Smartmatic has publicly denied the allegations, calling them “factually and legally incorrect” and politically motivated. The company said it intends to vigorously fight the charges.

As The Wall Street Journal reports:

The case underscores the Trump administration’s willingness to enforce the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in select circumstances. President Trump in February paused enforcement of the law, saying it hurts the ability of American firms to do business in countries where gratuities or gifts are common. The Justice Department later resumed enforcement with a focus on cases that relate to U.S. strategic interests, but it closed nearly half of its pending investigations.

Smartmatic said Thursday that it had cooperated with the government’s investigation and blamed the move to file charges on “powerful interests.”

“Smartmatic will continue to stand by its people and principles,” it said. “We will not be intimidated by those pulling the strings of power.”

The company has been in court for the past several years after suing conservative news outlets and allies of Trump who said voting-machine companies rigged the 2020 election for Joe Biden. Many defendants such as Fox News continue to fight Smartmatic’s claims, while Newsmax agreed last year to pay $40 million to settle with the company, according to regulatory filings.

Corporate Indictment Raises Stakes

This latest filing marks a shift from earlier 2024 charges, which focused on individual executives but did not name the company itself. Now, SGO/Smartmatic is listed as a corporate defendant — a rare move in high-profile election technology cases.

The implications could be wide-ranging, especially for Smartmatic’s government contracts, reputation, and exposure to regulatory scrutiny.

Impact on Ongoing Defamation Lawsuits

The indictment could also influence Smartmatic’s high-profile defamation lawsuits, including its ongoing case against Fox News. Defendants may attempt to leverage the federal charges to undermine Smartmatic’s credibility or weaken its legal posture.

What Comes Next

Prosecutors will need to prove the full trail of transactions, how the funds were concealed, and that there was intent to break the law. The defense is expected to challenge the case on both factual and legal grounds — possibly including arguments about the statute of limitations and jurisdiction.

Key developments to watch include any plea deals, dismissals, or trial outcomes; whether Smartmatic loses government contracts; and how the case shapes public confidence in election infrastructure.