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Smartmatic Accused of Bribing Election Chief

Roger Piñate, the co-founder of Florida-based Smartmatic, is facing federal charges after prosecutors in Miami accused him of bribing a top Venezuelan election official in an effort to secure favorable treatment in contract disputes.

According to a recent court filing reviewed by the Miami Herald, Piñate is alleged to have transferred ownership of a luxury residence in Caracas to Tibisay Lucena Ramírez, then-president of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, in what prosecutors describe as an illicit bribe.

Ramírez’s role placed her at the helm of Venezuela’s controversial election system, giving her significant control over electoral outcomes and vendor contracts.

Part of Broader DOJ Case Linked to Philippine Bribery Scheme--The Caracas residence transfer is just the latest in a growing legal case against Piñate, who was indicted last year by a federal grand jury for his role in a $1 million bribery and money laundering scheme related to the 2016 elections in the Philippines.

The Herald notes that prosecutors believe bribery was part of the firm’s regular business strategy, raising red flags about its operations in international elections.

This comes as Smartmatic is still pursuing a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, over claims the network aired false allegations linking the company to fraud in the 2020 U.S. election.

That case is ongoing, with a New York appeals court in January 2025 ruling the case can proceed to trial. Fox News maintains its reporting was newsworthy and protected by the First Amendment.

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As you may recall, many believed Smartmatic machines rigged the 2020 results against President Donald Trump.