MyPillow founder Mike Lindell has been found guilty of defamation against a former executive at an electoral voting machine company and must now pay an eye-watering $2.3 million.
Lindell was sued for defamation by former Dominion Voting Systems executive Eric Coomer, who accused him of spreading conspiracy theories by falsely claiming the firm had helped rig the 2020 presidential election, which Joe Biden won over Donald Trump.
Lindell denied wrongdoing and argued his statements about the issue were protected by the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech. However, Coomer’s lawyers successfully argued that Lindell’s words constituted defamation, as he had accused their client of a crime by alleging that Coomer was a “traitor.”
Newsweek reached out to Lindell via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Conspiracy theories proliferated online following Trump’s 2020 defeat, with some of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) followers falsely claiming the election was fixed. Trump himself had alleged that voter fraud and a “rigged election” were responsible for him losing the White House that year.
What To Know
Coomer used to work as the security and product strategy director at Dominion Voting Systems. He said that he had to flee his home “in fear for his safety” following Lindell’s online attacks against his character.
Lindell’s lawyers suggested Coomer bore some responsibility after writing Facebook posts that disparaged Trump. Coomer agreed his “hyperbolic” posts were a mistake, but insisted it was Lindell’s attacks falsely naming him as the architect of a treasonous plot that had destroyed his life.
The former voting machine executive asked for $62.7 million in damages.
However, the federal jury in Colorado, which found Lindell guilty of defamation on Monday, ordered the MyPillow boss and his online media platform, formerly known as Frankspeech, to pay the lesser amount of $2.3 million.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Lindell maintained throughout the trial that the 2020 election had been stolen, but his legal team did not call any experts to support his claims or provide evidence for his allegations.
The legal battle is not the first time the issue has been before the courts.
Dominion sued Fox News for $1.6 billion for airing false claims that the company’s voting machines were rigged. The broadcaster eventually reached a $787.5 million settlement and avoided a trial.
Dominion also filed lawsuits against several Trump allies.
In October 2023, the Associated Press reported that Lindell was unable to pay his lawyers the millions he owed them, and they were seeking a way to quit the case.
Lindell claimed he was “in ruins” financially in April of this year due to various other debts,including owing voting software company Smartmatic $56,396 following a similar legal battle and a $9 million lawsuit for alleged unpaid delivery fees to FedEx.
MyPillow is still selling pillows and bedsheets, with a page on the website before the trial dedicated to details of the defamation case and urging customers to “donate now” to the legal fund, with amounts ranging up to $1,000. He described the court case as “one of the most important trials in history.” The page was still up on his company’s website as of early Tuesday morning.
What People Are Saying
Charles Cain, one of the attorneys for former Dominion Voting Systems executive Eric Coomer, told jurors in closing arguments on Friday: “This is hurting democracy. This is misinformation. It’s not been vetted, and it needs to stop.
MyPillow founder Mike Lindell said in court, per the Associated Press: “I will not stop talking until we don’t have voting machines in this country.”
What Happens Next
Lindell appears set to face further legal wrangling after stating that he plans to launch an appeal.
