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Smartmatic Moves to Toss Bribery Case, Alleging 'Vindictive' Trump DOJ

The company argues prosecutors shifted course only after Trump's return to the White House.

Overview

  • Smartmatic filed a motion in Miami federal court on March 10 seeking dismissal of the indictment as retaliatory for rejecting Trump's false 2020 election claims.
  • The Justice Department has not yet answered the motion in court and told USA TODAY it will rest on its prior filings.
  • Smartmatic says it has cooperated since 2021 by producing millions of documents and briefing federal agents.
  • The case initially charged former executives in 2024, then added UK‑based parent SGO Corporation to the indictment in October.
  • Prosecutors allege $1 million in bribes to Philippine election officials between 2015 and 2018 and have sought to show revenue from a $300 million Los Angeles County contract was diverted to a slush fund controlled by co‑defendant Roger Pinate, who has pleaded not guilty.