MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Ordered to Pay $2.3 Million for Defaming Election Official
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Ordered to Pay $2.3 Million for Defaming Election Official
A Denver jury has held MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell liable for defamation, ordering him to pay $2.3 million in damages to former Dominion Voting Systems security director Eric Coomer. The verdict concludes a high-profile lawsuit stemming from Lindell’s repeated accusations that Coomer committed treason and was involved in election fraud.
Coomer’s lawsuit, filed in April 2022, alleged that Lindell’s false claims, amplified through Lindell’s media company Frankspeech, caused him severe emotional distress, death threats, and the loss of his career. The jury found Lindell responsible for defamation based on three specific instances of his public statements. While Lindell’s attorneys argued his statements were protected under the First Amendment, claiming he believed his allegations to be true, the jury disagreed.
Coomer’s legal team countered that Lindell’s claims went beyond mere criticism, directly accusing Coomer of a crime and suggesting evidence existed to support this accusation. This, they argued, constituted defamation.
Lindell, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and a prominent spreader of election conspiracy theories, denounced the verdict as “lawfare” and vowed to appeal. He maintained his innocence and declared his intention to continue commenting on election security, stating he wouldn’t stop until voting machines are eliminated from the country.
This case marks another significant legal setback for those who propagated false claims about the 2020 election. Dominion Voting Systems previously secured an $800 million settlement from Fox News, and other media outlets also faced lawsuits related to these claims.
While Lindell claimed financial hardship during the trial, the verdict adds to the growing cost associated with spreading unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud.
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