Judge Orders DOJ to Produce Smartmatic Records

A federal judge has ordered the Justice Department to turn over internal correspondence tied to its foreign bribery charge against voting machine maker Smartmatic.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Corruption

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single columned government building facade in cream on deep navy, with a muted red accent, evoking federal scrutiny of a prosecution. — A federal judge ordered the Justice Department on Tuesday to turn over internal correspondence about its decision to charge voting-machine maker Smartmatic's subsidiary SGO Corp. with foreign bribery. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Judge Kathleen M. Williams granted a motion from SGO Corp. Ltd., a Smartmatic subsidiary, to compel discovery of internal Justice Department correspondence about the decision to charge the company with foreign bribery. The order was issued on Tuesday, and the judge found Smartmatic's claims of vindictive and selective prosecution sufficient to warrant discovery.

Why it matters

The ruling allows the company to examine how and why the government chose to prosecute it despite newer enforcement policies under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The judge also found Smartmatic offered enough evidence to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution's constitutionality.

The federal court in Florida has granted discovery of internal Justice Department correspondence, and the prosecution of Smartmatic for foreign bribery remains pending. The judge has not yet ruled on the merits of the vindictive and selective prosecution claims, and the documents' contents are not yet public.

The players

Judge Kathleen M. Williams

A federal judge presiding over the Smartmatic foreign bribery case who granted the motion to compel discovery of internal Justice Department correspondence.

Smartmatic

A voting machine company that has been charged by the Justice Department with foreign bribery and is contesting the prosecution as vindictive and selective.

The details

Smartmatic asserted claims of vindictive and selective prosecution, arguing the government pursued the company despite new policies on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement. Judge Williams found those claims sufficient to order production of internal Justice Department communications about the charging decision.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Judge Kathleen M. Williams issued the order compelling Justice Department document production.

Legal Context

The case tests how the government applies the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act after recent enforcement policy changes, with the company arguing it was singled out. The outcome may shape how courts review prosecutorial discretion in foreign bribery cases.

The ruling could affect how federal prosecutors justify foreign bribery charges against companies that operate in government contracting. Residents and businesses following election technology may watch whether the discovery produces evidence that changes the case's direction.

The takeaway

Court discovery can reveal how prosecutors reached charging decisions, and this ruling gives Smartmatic a chance to test its claims that the case was selectively pursued. Readers should watch for whether the released records are made public.