Overview

• In Miami court filings, prosecutors say surplus fees of $10 to $50 per machine from Los Angeles sales were diverted to a fund controlled by co-founder Roger Pinate using shell companies and fake invoices, citing nearly $300 million in county payments.
• Pinate and two Venezuelan colleagues were charged last year in a Philippines bribery and money-laundering case, and Pinate has pleaded not guilty.
• Prosecutors also allege a luxury home in Caracas was secretly provided to Venezuela’s election chief, while Smartmatic rejects the claims as misrepresentations and denies the existence of any slush funds or gifted house.
• Smartmatic has not been accused of tampering with U.S. election results, and Los Angeles County officials have not been accused of wrongdoing, with the county saying its procurement complied with rules and it was unaware of how proceeds were used.
• Fox is seeking Los Angeles records for its defense and deposed Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan about a Smartmatic-paid 2019 Taiwan trip and a gifted meal, arguing the material bears on Smartmatic’s claimed damages.